Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Self and Society..

The conception of self and society

All my life I have been mesmerized by western music.I have lived in the traditional joint family for all my life.Only a year back I separated and started living on my own.The western music symbolized rebellion and individual expression. To me the self was sacred, the expression of it my birth right.
In a family which has(too many people)your self is a mixture of many souls. You get connected to this large unit where there are collective goals and collective laws. Let me draw a analogy and say something in terms to the country or state. As a single entity you are taught from a young age to think about your own ideas and goals. Our school system sees that we develop a plan for the future. We struggle to stand on our own feet in this process we topple many of the others down through the process of competition. Darwin would have winked and told you that this is the proof for "survival of the fittest" theory. Once we develop this selfishess..self -enlightment techniques we soak ourselves in our own greatness.This is a important transition phase for human beings.Because without developing a proper identity and definition for our own selves we suffer in constant confusion .The realm of higher consciousness kicks in when we realize the uncertainty associated with our lives.As humans our family becomes an integral part and we take it for granted.Our leap into the pool of enlightment comes in when we learn that we are a part of the whole.To become one we need to expand our family.Then the patriotism and jingoism/fundamentalism of religion and country sets in.Starting from the usual screams that we use to boo down opponent countries in sports to the hatred we show towards other religions and races it is a higher plane ...but not that tall that it teaches us compassion.The German holocaust is a clear example this kind of evolution.
To really understand the meaning of society we need to have humanitarian intellect which is lacked by many in the world. The reason for wars in most of the countries is a clear signal for this kind of deficiency. To me society encompasses all living beings. We need to develop compassion and respect to all the living creatures in this world. Humans are a speck in this humungous universe/multiverse.....The speck is noticeable but still it is only a speck..

8 comments:

Sharath said...

I couldn't have agreed any less with you on this post, which seems to be adding more clarity to a recent post of mine!. If the highest state of humanitarian intellect known so far is to respect all living creatures equally!, the question does arise is, what is the next level? or does it takes a life time to realize this itself?

Ram said...

Most western music is not as it claims to be an individual expression.... In fact it is very good exploitation of populistic tendencies. It is popular among both conformists as well as rebels,but not necessarily among intelligent non conformists.

Well surivival of the fittest takes place (read survival of the corrupt)..the societal structure ..including all collective laws are more corrupt then they are assumed to be. But that is what a mature intellect is about,not to conform with integrity as the base premise.Some times violence may be necessary I should say to control "survival of the fittest " tendencies.

Well here is where theism provides a kind of solace.Well I certainly am not trying to justify theism but just providing ideas to ponder.

astrocrazy2005 said...

Sharath,
The next level is a mystery in itself I dont know whether it exists..
Ram,
I am strongly against violence...
I agree that the media always reflects the popular culture...We have to make our own rules but as long as our existence doesn't become a curse for others..

Anonymous said...

Western Music and rebellious ? sounds like an oxymoron to me :-).

Its just called artistic freedome. Artists can write a song about anything , including war to abusing anyone and everyone.

Classic example, country stars Dixie chicks were treated like outcast after they spoke against Bush and war in iraq. But their album's first single 'Not ready to make nice' won them the Grammy's this year.

Disturbed's Down with sickness song is considered as abusive as the song contains explicit lyrics abusing mom, which still does not get airplay in TV or Radio. Few know that the band wrote the song symbolising "Earth" as a mother and the abusive treatment she is getting from us.

So i take you are agsint war ? You cannot stop war. Embrace it. (said with tongue in cheek =)

You have a good one

astrocrazy2005 said...

s3nt4h,
Western music do show rebellion..
Music,Art and literature have the ability to show the world the hidden aspects of society which ruin the world..

astrocrazy2005 said...

s3nt4h,
Western music do show rebellion..
Music,Art and literature have the ability to show the world the hidden aspects of society which ruin the world..

Anonymous said...

Nobody wants to be stereotyped. Nobody wants to be part of the confining group. Nobody wants to be the common man ? Everyone wants to be bad ? Thats what I see in western countries.

Break the rules and people think that they have done something great ?

I have not seen one real rebellion in the last 50 years.

Music, Art and literature have the ability, but you forgot that , if it aint selling you wouldnt know it.

you have a good one

astrocrazy2005 said...

s3nt4h,
Your view is bit pessimistic..On a larger media scale there was nothing rebellious to brag about..But change is always there..We just need to look at it :)