Richard Maurer - Reading Blog 4: The Binding Chair

I am leaving for China shortly and wanted to read a tale that was placed in Shanghai in the late 1800. The Binding Chair by Katheryn Harrison was a book that fits this need. It centers on a young girl caught in the traditions of old China who endures foot binding to find a position in the society. Her adventures and emotional experiences reflect a kind of self loathing and tragic generational pathos peculiar to the females of her country. Just as I am about to pitch the book as a 'chick read' and find something else, the book discloses a character who is male and almost as tragic. Together, they form an unusual couple and endure further tragedies. My favorite was the scene in London where the main character, May, gets herself into a small riot because she needs a sedan chair carried by servants mistaken as 'slaves' by the outraged people of London. She is so crippled, she cannot walk otherwise. In the end it seems she actually embraces her imposed deformity and takes pride in it, but never her sad life. She is more in control than her husband, and you wonder if it is the culture of women who could survive ancient China and it's regulations on them, or if May and her husband are simply by products of life under any rules anywhere. I think the book could have been better - but it did make old Shanghai a little more real for me.

Richard Maurer - Reading Blog 3: The Field

Written by a research journalist, it deals with the notion that functioning at the quantum level there is an area or field in which all action is recorded by 3 dimensional objects and entities. This book expands the notion of the 19th century spiritualist movement which insisted that there was “ether” in which spirits and events could move. Additionally, the ideas in this book correlate with the Akashic Record, which Edgar Cayce insisted existed and was a recording of all events seen and unseen. It is interesting to see how the author can use this idea to explain the faculties of psychics and intuitivists. Now, if I really understood quantum mechanics I could say if the book makes any real sense, but even the physicists are having a hard time explaining that away, so this is an interesting read and created on the lay level, but is well written and actually makes some sense.

Richard Maurer - Reading Blog 2: King Rat

King Rat revolves around Cpl. King, an American soldier in a Japanese prison camp who manages the black market operations amongst the incarcerated American and English POWs. His confident demeanor and bearing stand out because of his willingness to advance on the needs of others. It is clear that King takes pleasure in living on what would be considered an empowered existence, and always seeks ways to increase his organization by recruiting and controlling talented prisoners such as Peter Marlowe, an English soldier who speaks fluent Japanese. Marlowe refuses King’s offerings of money and goods for his services. Marlowe in contrast to King attempts to continue living by a code that transcends any financial gain despite the harsh conditions of the camp. He genuinely considers King a friend because of their shared experiences being interred together the cruel watch of the Japanese military. King Rat demonstrates humanity as it attempts to not only survive in an extreme environment but also maintain and reaffirm respect for its fellow man.

Richard Maurer - Reading Blog 1: The Hobbit

“Adventures… make one late for dinner!” is perhaps my favorite quote in the book. For quite some time I lived up to this quote. Rarely did I branch out beyond what I felt was comfortable. However, this complacency left me with a feeling of regret. I hated driving and leaving the comforts of home so I would make up excuses to get out of long road trips and other journeys with friends and family. If I had to go without being able to shower and wash up for longer than a day, it more than likely wouldn’t happen. I missed out on quite a bit that could’ve been at least great fun. In the past few years, I have left my comfort zone, and much like Bilbo Baggins, yearn to keep traveling and finding new experiences to savor and enjoy. This summer I will be traveling through Shanghai and possibly next Winter Break I may find myself helping to take care of baby baboons in South Africa (although this one is probably just a passing fancy).

Richard Maurer - Movie Blog 5: Chronicles of Ridick

Awesome movie! The character of Ridick is very ambiguous. He is initially viewed as self-serving and only interested in his own personal survival. However, his motivations are seemingly selfish but nonetheless they are for the good of all. Should the Necromongers win then Ridick would no doubt be hunted down for the stubborn individualist threat he poses to the swarming mentality of the Necromongers. Ridick exemplifies existentialism as he combats the forced conversion of his opponents. He is his own man and refuses to become just a specimen of a larger whole.

Richard Maurer Movie Blog 4: Alien 3

Set in gritty and dark border world industrial complex, the movie is dismal, but eventually hints at the religious tones of redemption and sacrifice. The “evil” of the movie is in the form of UGLY, really ugly, insect-like creatures. It is hard to get any uglier… and the evil that emanates from these creatures hits you at a visceral level. These aliens ooze saliva, cocoon victims, and ultimately use them as hosts for their equally repulsive spawn. These images are similar to descriptions of what one may find in hell… heck the entire backdrop for this movie is even in a fiery lead works. Ripley, the hero of the movie, shaves her head and becomes reminiscent of a warrior monk. This rather unfeminine image perhaps indicates a spiritual revival as she reveals more of herself to whatever powers that be. In the end, she even fights corporate greed as she falls backward into a pool of molten lead (symbolic of hell) in a Christ like position sacrificing herself for the good of mankind.

Richard Maurer - Movie Blog 3: Conan the Barbarian

This movie was almost my choice for the class’ research paper. Yes, I know… a young “Governator” beheading various evil minions with a giant sword doesn’t seem too profound, but this movie can truly hold its own to further academic analysis. The major theme of Conan the Barbarian is centered on the “Riddle of Steel.” The initial answer Conan is given is that you can not be confident of the flesh, only the steel in your hand will remain trustworthy. This argument is countered by the antagonist of the movie, James Earl Jones … err Thulsa Doom, who explains that flesh is stronger as he commands thousands of followers to worship him as an avatar of a god. In his final example, Doom commands a beautiful girl to leap of a cliff to her death out of faith. The desire of one’s heart is demonstrated to be far more powerful than the swing of any blade. After numerous battles and conflicts (with both mind and body) Conan realizes that the true answer to the riddle is that both the power of steel and flesh are derived from one’s own convictions.

Furthermore, Conan’s god Crom is a cruel one that ignores all pleas for help. Crom is ready to pass disapproving judgment all those who deems as unworthy. According to Conan and his people he gave them the will to survive and that should be enough. To beg for aid or salvation is seen as weakness. The only time Conan ever prays is right before his last major battle with Doom’s minions as he screams "Valour pleases you, Crom, so grant me one request: grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!"