reflection on 3 questions

1. If something is intuitively obvious, must everyone agree about it?

Intuition is a thought, emotion, suspicion or hunch that something doesn't feel right. It is a safety mechanism that exists to protect one from harm, or at least make one think twice before you go about doing something. There’s a reason behind thinking a thought or having a feeling which is uneasy or more like a warning. Something in the memory, subconscious, or past experience is secreting a sense of caution. Something about the situation doesn't quite feel right- one may not be able to understand how or why but it is best to listen to oneself. It is scientifically proven that our subconscious can pick up the tiniest clues from our environment before we consciously and rationally can understand what they mean or what to make of them. For example, if you are walking down the street and you must turn right but something in you says to turn left, you might not know why you feel this way but just go left. You may have see an accident on that corner when you were younger, this might be a route where cars tend to speed or there might be an unsafe inconspicuous doorway you remember walking past or even seeing on the news. Whatever the reason, your mind and body are saying that it is safer to go the other way, even if you can't rationally explain why this is. Therefore it is best to trust one’s own intuition.


2. Could you be wrong in thinking that something is intuitively obvious?
The answer is “yes”. One can be wrong when they think so because not all intuitions are correct or prove to be right. The initial intuition that the earth is flat was later proven to be false and as regarded as a felony of gut feeling.

3. If something is intuitively obvious, must everyone agree about it?
Intuition highly depends on the situation and surrounding one is in, its environment and the past experiences and memories, therefore it is objective and varies from person to person therefore it is not important or necessary for each person to believe it.

little prince, chpt 1

The little prince
The little prince by Antoine de saint- Exupery which is the story of a small child namely the little prince and his adventures is also a profound statement on human perception, attitudes and various Areas of learning. The first chapter of the book acquaints the reader with what lies thereafter. Apart from introducing the little prince as a painter in the first chapter we are given an insight into his a pinion into grown-ups and their almost rigid attitudes and patterns. There is no doubt that the entire book revolves round human perception but the first chapter itself highlights this aspect very strongly. The author very cleaver provides illustration to convey his point that all art is a matter of perception. The painting of a Boa Constrictor digesting an elephant which the author regards as his masterpiece which all grownups perceive it as lifeless, and an inanimate object namely a hat. Since perception is all about the onlookers view point it is always subjective and can never be wrong or right. In this case also, the author is not wrong about interpreting his painting as that of a boa constrictor digesting an animal. That is his perception of his art work. The grownups looking at his paintings are right in their own way as it does resemble some kind of a head dress.
An individual’s perception of a concept is always backed by some logic or reasoning with the help of which explains why a person perceives a particular abstraction in a particular manner. There is coordination between the mind and the eye wherein the latter sees and the former justifies that which is being seen. Without the power of reasoning an individual cannot label his perceptions or give it any name.
The language used throughout this chapter is simply. Short sentences have been used to convey the writers own clarity of thought on various issues the primary one being his view of grownups. There is no long winding description of the external world or of the inner emotional self. The writer addresses every issue head on. He announces his switch of profession in a very “matter-of-fact” manner and does not express his own personal opinion about the same. Specific words are used by the author in order to drive his point home.
As stated above, this passage is devoid of emotional jargon but does deal with the writers own feelings towards grownups in general and their attitude towards his own painting in particular. The writer does not dwell on any describing any one emotion for too long. He accepts the fact that his painting is perceived differently from what it is actually meant to be but decides to switch professions and not brood on his failure as a painter.
In the first chapter effective use of illustration has been made as it is only with the help of a diagram; can the point of ‘individual differences in perception’ be demonstrated. Although the art work is not highly refined, it serves the writers purpose and makes for the good visual appeal to the reader. The existence of non refined diagrams in the first chapter also validate the idea that these are works of a 6 year old child not that of a qualified artist. The pictures are cleverly used to portray the picture which the child artist has of a boa constrictor digesting an animal in his own minds eye. The rigid and well defined concepts of the adult world have not yet biased his imagination. Moreover one of the 3 paintings is so abstract that it can be interpreted in more ways than one. And every way can be the right way.
The ease with which the author mentions a switch of professions throws light on his interest for and knowledge of geographical facts. His option of being a pilot is made readily and he expresses no qualms about abandoning his career as an artist. His basic geographical knowledge at that age according to him would sufficient and helpful in his new career of a pilot. This career option also reveals the authors good business sense as the career of a pilot is certainly far more lucrative than the profession of a painter.
The passage can be closely linked to ethics as well. Important issues have been subtly raised but not commented on in this brief but wisdom-packed chapter. The author repeatedly harps on the fact that grownups are very rigid in theory thought processes and are judgmental about things which don’t lend with their own mind set. It is very difficult for grownups to accept a Childs point of view and it more difficult for them to encourage and agree with their Childs flight of imagination. The author expresses his disgust at the fact that grownups need to logically reason out everything and does not understand why they cannot accept and appreciate a work of art as just a work of art but feel compelled to analyse and categorize it. Graceful acceptance of the fact that a single object or idea can have multiple interpretations is alien to them. In doing so they very unconsciously demoralize a child and many a time ruin an upcoming prodigy. In the present day situation too, children, we realize are constant victims of adult expectations. The important adults in a child’s life that are his teachers and his family are largely instrumental in making and marring is future. The passage under study is a fine reflection of this and can be regarded as symbolic of problems faced by children in their formative years on account of rigid and unreasonable pressures from the adult world.

JAMES LANG THEORY

This theory has become known as the James-Lange Theory of emotion, and the basic ideas behind it are very interesting indeed. Whereas we normally tend to think of our bodies and our faces changing to reflect the emotions which we are feeling, the James-Lange theory states that basically the opposite is true. Boiled down, this theory states that emotions come after our bodies react. For example, assume one was walking through the woods, and a large angry grizzly bear burst out. According to the James-Lange Theory, we would run from the bear automatically, and, in the course of our running, would discover that we were afraid based upon the bodies reaction to the stimulus. According to James-Lange, we feel emotions because we sense the change in our bodies. Thus, the physiological responses by our bodies to various situations are interpreted by our bodies and then our minds, based upon those responses, construe the emotion that we should be feeling.

K@W-5

WINNIE THE POOH :
The colours used in the film are bright and serve as an effective visual aid. The music coupled with lyrics flashing on the screen also enhances the value of the film making it more enjoyable. Music has a powerful influence in the process of brain development. Music can be divided into three mainly rhythm, harmony and melody. The rhythm is what appeals to our body. Melody appeals to the spirit. And harmony appeals to the mind. The perfect frequency ratios as notes resonate are harmony. An octave is a 1:2 ratio.
Heavy rhythms appeal to our body. They make us want to move. Drummers keep soldiers marching. Waltzes sweep us along a dance floor. Faster music releases adrenalin. Fast music, 130 - 200 beats per minute, is able to activate the noradrenergic system and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis more than slow music. This is our "flight or fight" part of our nervous system.
Animated films are made to appeal to the children’s mind specifically. Along with the flow of the music and the types of colours, the emotions play a great role on the minds of the viewer. Colours like pink, blue enhance the production of serotonin in the brain which makes a person feel happy. Dark colours like grey and black give a feeling of depression which states that the serotonin production is less. Therefore the reason behind making the viewer emote is used by the film producers to create effects in the movie.
The language of the song comprises mainly of nonsensical rhymes and very often words are created and used only to create a rhythmic rhyme scheme, this appeals to the interest of the viewers. In spite of the language being fun and creative to appeal to the aesthetic sense of the reader it is not all comical jargon. There is a lot to learn from what pooh and his friends have to sing about life and relationships. The lyrics revolve around the friendship, living a life free from worry and brooding no matter what hardships come in the way and living an honest and simple life engaged in helping others. The rabbit in his song also echoes a similar ideology when he sings “you harvest what you grow”.
The present song which is apparently a pleasant jingle meant to entertain young minds can also be perceived at the adult level as a jingle to sing to oneself in times of trouble or otherwise. The universal truth contained in these short sentences create a mood of reflection and at times even enable an individual to introspect his lifestyle, his attitude towards life and his relationships with those around him. Like all Pooh songs this one too touches the heart and gears the mind in the direction of living a happy life in harmony with ones socio- physical environment.

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLsM48OVaPk&feature=related

“A book or set of books of informative articles usually arranged in alphabetical order” An encyclopaedia can therefore be regarded as a comprehensive book containing articles for one’s reference as well as a wide range of subjects as well as detailed accounts of the numerous aspects of a particular field. This information is usually arranged subject wise and in alphabetical order to facilitate reference activities. A myriad of subjects such as history, geography, chemistry, math, bio, technology, space study, physics as well as detailed study of plant, animal as well as human kingdom are embodied in an encyclopaedia. The cover of such a comprehensive book naturally has to be designed keeping in mind its larger purpose. The cover of an encyclopaedia is reflective of the contents within and serves as a visual advertising aid. The cover of the ency. Titled “Factfinder” published by kingfisher is a fine example of the value of the visual appeal which the cover of a book carries. To begin with it has a white background. This provides scope for using any shade of any colour effectively, without having to worry about the highlighting effect. The title per say is printed in a shade of grey. It stands out as it is done in bold letters but is not overshadowing the picture given below. The use of grey is a judicious choice as nowhere else in the collage has the colour been used.
The collage has been colourfully created and every picture is suggestive of a particular field of learning. The use of right colours such as blue, green and red enhance the visual appeal of the cover. The snowy mountain ranges portrayed in the shades of white and purplish grey serve as a backdrop to depict the plant and animal kingdom and at the same time is a symbol of the geographical contents of the book. Different animals and wild flowers have been randomly scattered around the snowy mountains, thus indicating the inclusion of detailed information on and all aspects of various plants and animal species. The incorporation of chemical information is intelligently suggested by the use of chemical compounds or symbols printed in attractive colour. The Saturn depicted immediately besides the picture of the 3-demensional earth suggests that facts related to the solar system as well as those pertaining through the earth and its various aspects are embodied in the book. A miniature map like picture using colours to denote to the physical features of any region for example, green to denote vegetation, brown to denote the mountain has been skilfully used on the cover.
Information as technological advancement is also an integral part of the book. This is demonstrated through the picture of a rocket in one corner of the cover. Subjects like physics and math which are closely related to the technological advancements are also within the encyclopaedia.
A brightly covered Egyptian mask printed in one corner of the cover is suggestive of the fact that information on the history of various ancient civilisations is contained in this book in a comprehensive manner. The mask is probably used to denote the art of cultural aspect of these ancient civilisations.
This encyclopaedia is an embodiment of a store house of valuable information is effectively conveyed through its colourful and significant cover. The use of relevant pictures and illustrations printed in congruent shades of colours which supplement each other serve as a mirror to the content that lies within the book

THE MOVIE AUSTRALIA:
Australia is a highly applauded and appreciated film revolving around an English woman’s romantic escapade in the interiors of Australia. It stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and set against the picturesque backdrop of Darwin in Australia.
Made in 2008, the film brings to life an important episode in Australia’s colonial history. It is set in times when Australia was a colony of Great Britain and the natives were treated with much contempt and discrimination. The history of Australia as a British colony we realize though through the film that other British colonies were in much the same condition where there was racial discrimination. This movie becomes the face of the million people who faced racial discrimination.
The film highlights the aboriginal culture and makes a profound statement about the transformative power of love through the character of Lady Sarah Ashley. Australian Aboriginal culture is one of the world's longest surviving cultures, which dates back at least 50,000 years and there are many who think it could be closer to 150,000 years. It was this harmonious affinity with their surroundings that reveals to us how Australian Aborigines survived for so many millennia. Indigenous Aborigines understood and cared for their different environments and adapted to them. It is the intimate knowledge of the land, its creatures and plants that sits at the core of traditional Aboriginal culture. From this deep and intricate understanding of their environment, Aboriginal Australians have developed many plant and animal based medicines.By the gaining of knowledge, rather than material possessions, an Aborigine attains status in Aboriginal culture. Art is an expression of knowledge. Through the application of ancestrally (wangarr) inherited designs and ceremonial initiations, Aboriginal artists assert their identity, their rights and responsibilities. The paintings and the ancestral beings within them are as much the property of clans as the land itself.
Although the film is an emotionally packed film, it has its lighter moments which are conveyed through the native aboriginal practices and folk songs.
The protagonist Lady Sarah Ashley is an aristocrat English woman who embarks on an a daring adventure into a remote cattle breeding town of Darwin in search of her husband with whom she cannot establish communication. On reaching Darwin she is shocked at the discovery of her husband’s death but gathers herself together and decides to save his dream cattle station and in order to do this she very reluctantly joins hands with a rugged cattle drover. He helps Sarah to save her cattle station from the greedy cattle barons.
While in Darwin she comes across a small aboriginal child “Nulla” whose mother is a slave on Lady Sarah Ashley’s husband’s farm. For some inexplicable reason she is drawn towards the child. Therefore she takes care to see that Nulla does not become a victim of the racial discrimination. Nulla’s own natural mother is brutally murdered by the book keeper, Mr. Fletcher. It is Lady Sarah who assumes the responsibility of the aborigine kid.
Lady Sarah Ashley embarks on an epic journey, transferring the 2000 cattle to a far away land, Darwin, Braving the trials of a long and tedious journey through the desert of Australia. This journey depicts her determination and strength to achieve her goal at all costs.
The film moves on towards the outbreak of the world war two which saw Australia’s involvement by virtue of being a British colony. Sarah, Nulla and the Cattle Drover are caught in the bombing of Darwin fortunately escape unhurt. The film very sensitively closes on the union of the three, Sarah, Nulla and the cattle drover.
The geographical setting of this film, (Darwin) has cleverly been chosen to highlight the aboriginal culture of the film. The history is flawlessly delineated in the bombings and the music composed in a particular style, conveys to us the art and language of the place, Australia. Their beliefs in folk songs and certain tunes which help Nulla to think he becomes invisible clearly depicts that the era and core ideology of primitive times and tribes. Scientifically, the tunes the aborigines use to communicate is the way for self healing and makes one look in their inner conscience through which they can sense the feeling of some forth coming event. Therefore this movie has a blend of adventure, romance, history, science along with emotions.

The TOK classes were interesting as we dealt with dubious topics. One such topic is the difference between expression and communication. Previously I was very confused about the two terms as they overlap each other. While reading the article in class and attempting to solve the mystery of the dissimilarity between them we answered multiple questions which came our way.From my understanding, the expression is a part of communication. Expressions are one way, but when they are comprehended by the other person it is ransformed into communication. Therefore communication become a two ways while expression becomes one way. Expressions are backed by reason and emotion, and they are based on the perception of a person. For example, when a person is disabled he is unable to talk; he would express himself through sign language. He would have heard someone talking or doing something which was amusing to him. Therefore to express his emotional feelings he communicates through sign language. As a result there is reason backed by perception and emotions. It was fascinating in the way we linked the ways of knowing to the areas of knowledge. The debate was interesting but there were still a few questions which remained unanswered. The other topic which was that intuition and instinct, this topic fascinated most people in our class. There was a heated discussion on the differences between instinct and intuition. Prior to this discussion it was difficult for me to gauge the difference in-between the two. Later, I realised that intuition is the ability to sense or know immediately without reasoning while instinct is the inherent disposition of a living organism toward a particular behavior. The example for distinguishing both the terms can be that intuition is like a premonition while instinct is the current action which pertains to the emotions and perceptions of the person and the reaction is dependent on the situation. The tok classes have been interesting and these are one of the topics which have interested me the most. It has been a very interactive session and therefore theory of knowledge, which I thought to be boring and uninteresting, is now enjoyable. It helps me explore and connect the different ways of knowing to the areas of knowing.