Reflection of Semester 1

To me, the seminar topics for the 1^st semester have been surprising interesting. Topics like “Space Opera”, “Fiction & Fantasy” show how similar the real world & story worlds are like, despite the differences in genre, sciences as well as imagination. Topics like “The current state of horror” & “Hero Archetypes” focus a lot on human psychology. How imagination & ideas can change the way we see & understand things. Basically every seminar topic challenges & reveals new forms of thinking; new ways of seeing something. One topic in particular that I felt was the best in challenging the way we think & understand is the topic on “Fringe Science”. A question posted during this seminar was, ‘Are there other dimensions in existence? What happens to us in those dimensions?’ This ‘enlightened’ my curiosity.

The seminar on Alchemy made a lot of sense to me. It touched on a particular point; which was that alchemy was the understanding of trying to change base metals into gold. This part made me remember a topic I was introduced to last year, which titled “Plato”. Plato had a philosophical belief of letting go of one’s body to be with the gods, meaning that by gaining knowledge, enlightenment could be achieved. I felt that Plato’s philosophy & the understanding of alchemy were similar at this point. This show how knowledge is linked in ways!

Top 5 things I learnt!

1) We think we know something! But that is not entirely true!

The most amazing thing about this module is that you think you already know what to expect, but in fact it’s not what you expected! For most of the seminar topics, there was always a point where I would be caught by surprise. An example would be how horror is more psychological than supernatural.

2) People scare themselves!

The thing about horror genres is that it is very unique in using people’s minds against themselves. Horror uses the basis of imagination to scare a person. It is not witnessing a horrific event that really scares you; it is after that experience when you cannot stop thinking about what you saw that is truly horrifying.

When we are left alone, we unconsciously begin to think of things. The thoughts we think create circumstances where we do not understand, & substitute what we think it is. For example, we see something moving in the dark, we assume it’s a ghost, & hence scaring ourselves, when that something could have just been a curtain being blown by the wind.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that it is our mind that ultimately scares us...

3) Hero’s are human too!!!

I guess the only thing to say about this is that no matter how ‘super’ a hero is, he/she still has emotions, people they care for & of course, flaws. No one is perfect, not even heroes, & that’s what makes them human like us.

4) Fantasy: Creating imaginary worlds

Fantasy is something that doesn’t exist in reality. It is a world that we imagine & bring to life through our ideals, imagination & ideas that involve magic & sorcery...

5) Eye Candy!!!

Eye Candy, also known as, exaggeration, is commonly used by the media to show off something straightforward like casting a spell & make it seem special.

For example: If you watch “Power Rangers”...everytime they change into their costumes, they go through a sequence that exaggerates their transformation...do you really think take that long to change during a crisis!!!

Special Seminar (by Faris) - Alchemy

The subject touched on in this lecture was Alchemy. Alchemy is known to be a subject of science. Alchemy is common understood as the transmutation of base metals into gold, the investigation to the secrets of immortality & achieving ultimate wisdom & knowledge.

The study of alchemy may have contributed to the discovery of modern pharmaceuticals & chemicals used industries nowadays such as inks, cosmetics, liquors etc. Alchemy may have been an attempt for both science & faith to understand & correspond with one another.

Gold for example stands for purity. Alchemists were attempting to change something like base metals, which were impure, into gold. A good comparison to what alchemists were trying to accomplish can be related to Plato’s philosophy. Plato talked about letting go of one’s body to be with the gods. In short, enlightenment was thought to be achieved through the gaining of knowledge.

Alchemy was also thought to be the principle of equivalent exchange; meaning that in order to attain something, something of equal value had to be sacrificed. Commonly in life, we understand this principle as fair trade.

HTI2 Seminar 9 – Supernaturals

Do you believe in ghosts? Demons? Devils? Apparently, many people do! This supernatural phenomenon is common all over the world, & it is through this that horror plays a part. In the previous seminar, I stated that psychology is the primary means that instills a sense of fear in people. The same aspect applies here as well.

Because of the belief in the afterlife; life after death, people have long believed in heaven & hell. Generally, every person is believed to have a soul, when the body dies, the soul is either sent to heaven or hell. It is also believed that souls with “unfinished business” return as ghost. In the horror genres, ghosts are usually portrayed as vengeful spirits, haunting & sometimes killing. This is why claim to see ghosts or unexplainable occurrences. Their mind has been convinced that ghosts & spirits are real.

Other supernatural beings like demons & devils are also widely believed & feared by people. Demons & devils reside in hell, a place where souls whom have sinned are sent to for eternal punishment. In all religions, demons & devils are associated with evil. There are cases where people have claimed to have been processed by demons.

In folklores, mythology & religion, there are tales of many supernatural creatures. Stories of vampires & zombies, demons & angels, etc. told throughout history can be the reason why we believe in such things. In my opinion, the reason why we fear these things is because we do not understand it. Our human psychology is based a lot on facts & what our eyes tell us.

HTI2 Seminar 8 – The current state of Horror

Horror & fear have been present ever since life existed. Everyone one something that he/she/it fears. The horror genre plays with these fears, & uses it against us.

So what exactly is horror? Horror is our primal fear, something that makes us uncomfortable & dread, that makes us cower or scream. Horror comes in many forms, from the simple to the supernatural. Horror in simplistic form can be for example; the fear of heights. One tends to imagine himself/herself falling to their deaths when standing somewhere high, this gets their heart pumping. Something that is ordinary to some may be horror to others.

The human mind is complex & unique. We subconsciously remember things; sometimes it’s a good thing, while sometimes it’s bad. If we witness something horrifying; like someone being killed, we can’t just simple forget. We will keep thinking about it, & that becomes of fear. Many children are afraid of the dark because of the “Boogy Man”. A simple story meant to scare children becomes their primal fear, & why? Because they believe that it is real. Another example is “Santa Claus”. Children believe he is real through the stories told to them by parents.

Horror in real life is most of the time psychological. When someone says he saw a ghost, most likely you may start feeling strange. Horror films deliver a frightening experience to the audience. After watching a horror film, we tend to reminisce about the events that happened in the film. Ask yourself, if you see your friend eat a chocolate bar & exploded, would you dare to eat chocolate ever again?