Apocalypse Now: Part 3

 Reminder: I'll collect all three parts of our responses!

Here's part 3.

Context: Willard and his team finally arrive at Kurtz' camp. There are bodies and indigenous people everywhere who follow Kurtz like a god.

1. In his pre-death line Kurtz says, "We train young men to drop fire on people but their commanders won't allow them to write F___ on their airplanes because it's obscene!" What does Apocalypse show about the duality of absurdity? 

(There's the absurdity of war - which is that war is pointless - a nihilistic view, and there's Camus' "The Absurd" where we must find meaning for ourselves (Existentialism)

2. Did Willard adopt Kurtz' existentialist/nihilistic view of the world before he killed him? Or did Willard confront Kurtz because his essentialist perspective was incompatible with Kurtz' idealism?

Apocalypse Now: Part 2

Time for our next bit of writing. A few questions this time. For a reminder, here are a few key events that took place in part 1 and 2:

• Through part 1 and 2, Captain Willard reflects on Kurtz' record and profile. He discovers that Kurtz is a remarkable soldier who is well-decorated, and clearly headed for a prolific career. Willard is told early in the film that Kurtz has gone too far, and is living like a god; doing whatever he wants, ordering whatever he wants.
• The inspects a civilian vessel, only for panic to break out and the soldiers open fire, killing nearly everyone on board out of panic. Willard executes the only survivor.
• Late in part 2, Willard's team arrives at Bright Town. This is the place where they got the mail and the director used a lot of light and dark to transition scenes. Everyone seemed stunned, and we briefly met a character named Roach who blew up an enemy soldier. 
• At the end of part 2, the boat is attacked, and Clean is killed while a tape recording of his mother's voice plays in the background. The puppy has gone missing.

1. How does Captain Willard’s internal monologue reflect existential themes of meaning and purpose? Consider his frequent confusion at Kurtz' dossier.
2. In what ways do the soldiers in the film confront the absurdity of war? In what ways do they enable the absurdity of war?
3. How is Lance shifting as a character throughout part 1 and 2? What seems to be causing this transformation?
4. Is Captain Willard’s character a reflection of essential traits of leadership and heroism, or does he deconstruct these ideals as the story progresses?

Apocalypse Now: Part 1

 So we've seen the first 50 minutes or so of Apocalypse Now. It's time for the first of THREE written responses. We will pick the best one and submit it for marks! For a reminder - Captain Willard is the main character. Colonel Kilgore is the head of the air cavalry who loved surfing and wore a cowboy hat.

1. How does Captain Willard and Kilgore differ in making meaning for their lives? Consider the contrasting definition of essentialism and existentialism.

The Search for Yourself

Existentialism makes reflection meaningful. Without this background, reflections can seem meaningless or like grunt work (in fact, a nihilist would say that all reflection is meaningless). Existentialism requires us to take responsibility for our lives, our values, and our direction. It refutes essentialism, which argues that there is an essence that makes you, you (as defined by someone, or something else). Some terms to inform our discussion:

Determinism: The idea that our lives are pre-determined. There are several angles to this school of thought. Some believe that God has determined every aspect of our lives, others feel that every aspect of our personality is the product of chemical reactions and electrons moving through our brain; that there are essentially aspects to our existence that we will likely never fully understand that influence us in subtle ways that ultimately determine how we live.

Free Will: Refutes determinism. Our actions are entirely of our own making. We have control over our future and how our lives turn out. We must be responsible and accountable for every aspect of our lives. Free will is a battle over the hardship of reality, 

For the following scenarios, describe how free will and determinism will explain their thinking differently:

1. A boy steals bread to feed his family.
2. A man hijacks a plane, and crashes it into one of the twin towers.
3. A young lady on the verge of bankruptcy wins the lottery.
4. A young lady loses her house due to her gambling addiction.
5. A student hasn't handed in any assignments because they have been staying up late playing video games.
6. A student has fumbled during their soliloquy presentation.
7. Another student in your class seems to have everything going for them. Good marks, good relationships, good money.

Welcome back!

 English 12

In our final unit, you will be challenged with some high-level thinking through existentialism. We'll figure out some new terms, learn about Joseph Campbell and watch a film, Apocalypse Now - based on his novel The Heart of Darkness. 

Beware, this is a rabbit hole that will have you ask questions about yourself. The ideas in this unit will challenge your thinking about identity, faith, and the meaning of life. This knowledge can be used to begin understanding how you can accomplish self-actualization. Sound familiar?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

ESSENTIALISM vs EXISTENTIALISM (this idea rejects essentialism):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDvRdLMkHs

Video on Existentialism, Absurdism, and Nihilism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaIbUAkSYEU

*Note - the sponsor for the above video is in hot water. Please skip over the sponsored segment from  1:17 - 2:17.

First, answer these questions. This will show you how existentialism affects you.

1. Do you have particular worries about the future?
2. Have you been through a major event that had you rethink your values, beliefs, and goals?
3. Consider your educational goals for next year. Have they been defined by someone else, or yourself?

Now, after watching the videos, answer these.

1. What is 'the absurd'?
2. What is nihilism?
3. How does an existentialist find meaning?
4. How does existentialism differ from essentialism?