Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka was born on July 3rd 1883. He was born in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary which is now modern day Hungary. He was born in a middle-class Jewish family in an area of people who spoke Czech. He was fluent in both German and Czech finding it hard in which to consider himself a German or Czechoslovakian as the community grew more of a national identity. He grew a lonely as a child from his parents being gone on business days and a troubled relationship with his father. Kafka attended German Charles-Ferdinand University of Prague in 1901 and obtained a degree of Doctor of Law in 1906 and took an interest in Czech literature. For the next 5 years Kafka worked for 2 different insurance companies, despite hating the job he rapidly went up through the ranks and positions and reports were well received by his superiors.  Later in 1911 he opened an asbestos factory in Prague with his partner Karl Herman. During the time he owned it he had a particularly positive attitude towards donating his time to his business, but later gained more of an interest in writing. In 1915 he wad drafted for the military but his insurance prohibited him to saying his job was playing an important role in the war, to which he later tried to join but couldn't because his tuberculosis. In 1918 the Workers accident insurance institute put Kafka on pension due to his illness but there was no cure at the time so he spent most of the rest of his life in sanatoriums. Kafka had a strong influence on genres such as existentialism philosophy. He is not noted for many quotes but rather his views and perspective. Not only was his way of writing unique to others but his thoughts and experiences. He is credited with having the biggest impact on 20th century literature by Harry Steinhauer. Kafka was not famous during his life nor death but soon after. Kafka died June 3rd 1924 due to his turbucolis closing his windpipe which lead to starvation.

Kofka pictured at a young age

Prague Kafka's Residence

Franz as a young adult

The university he attended

The disease Kafka fell fatal too

Hebrew Translation:

1. [On] Tuesday, June 3, 1924 (1/2 Sivan 5684 on the Jewish calendar)
2. The glorious young man Anchel Kafka [Franz's Jewish name] passed on
3. Son of the respected Mr. Hanich Kafka [Hermann's Jewish name]
4. And mother Yettel Kafka [Julie's Jewish name]
5. May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.

Source: http://german.about.com/library/gallery/blfoto_kafka01det.htm

Reflection 3/3

My favorite canto was most likely 14. Although I do not agree with the punishment I thought it was creative and cruel. Raining fire and burning sand is most likely the worst punishment someone can receive. My least favorite was the 1st one as I found it unfair. Although they were not being punished horribly for not believing in god (when Christianity did not even exist) I think they still could have proved themselves through purgatory or any other way. I really do not think the people in these Canto's deserve the pain they receive solely because its human nature that we would curse "our" god or not believe in a religion that did not even exist at the time.

REFLEXSHUN

I'm really enjoying this Dante's Inferno project besides all the work and stuff, its extremely time consuming. I got canto 23, so thank god I did a little bit of studying before some people, or some fool would grab it. I'm pretty interested in listening to other peoples Canto's as long as their not boring. If I put as much effort as I think I am i hope i can score well to pick up my grade, I have not been feeling well about it and also disappointed in myself, it's all on me. This is probably my hardest LA class I've ever taken so I need to amp up on this project and the class itself.
Other then LA this week has been alright. I saw the Lego movie and had no idea what was going on. Schoolboy Q's Oxymoron new album has already leaked even though it comes out tomorrow. Every song on there is on FIYAAAAAAAAA. Wrestling is finally over so I can focus on school and gaining weight, its nice not to starve yourself and have no idea whats going on in class from being dehydrated. I really want to see that Disney movie Frost or Frosted, I heard its icy (get it, cause its cold)

This pic looked tight

Shawty Wanna Refecltion

This week in LA and in general was pretty laid back. I liked making posters and researching better then writing long complicated essays about long complicated topics. Plus i guess you can say my homework was pretty much watching a movie and that was even cooler. I still gained some valuable knowledge about tragic heroes and about literature in general. Your super cool and chill teacher Ms. Cawlfield, I'm just sayin' the class should move to making more posters but learn at the same time, so everybody wins.

Personal Hell

According to the Bible Hell is technically a lake of fire that you burn in for all eternity after death. I for one do not believe in hell, but if it exists it would be horrible. My personal hell would have constant repeating(like music or specific sounds), constant torture without a break, and constant itchiness. And centipedes, God needs to burn every god damn one of those on earth. I don't really have anyone specific to be in my hell, maybe like some annoying rich kids from here, but they eventually make their way back up to heaven once the realize what horrible and ungrateful people they are. People who murder and rape should also be in hell, especially pedophile, pedophiles are the one exception that I wouldn't let escape. Every minute would feel like an hour to them and every hour would feel like months. Everyone would suffer enough till they redeem themselves through pain.

1. In my hell, everyone would go to hell, every single person. Every person has done something wrong, hurt someone or screwed someone over out of their own happiness or will. Everyone has a horrible part to them. Some will have an extremely short period in hell and some will have an extremely wrong, it depends on how much suffering and hurt you have caused to others within reason. Hitler was a horrible horrible person, and overall he was a demon. But he would be able to work his way out of hell, he one the first dictator/leader to lead an anti-smoking campaign as well as animal abuse was not tolerated, people were strictly punished unde him who hurt innocent animals. I DO NOT have a soft spot for him, but of course everyone has a good side to them and can work their way out of hell. My hell is not based off religion, but your own self.

2. The punishments can range to torture to mentally breaking down a person. Some people would burn for eternity, others can have there teeth pulled out over and over again. I know its brutal but it is supposed to be hell lol. People who had a decent life with not hurting others wouldn't suffer much, they would just be pushed to their limit by working out or something. Nothing to hard for good people, but everyone needs punishment. Another punishment would be peeing an endless amount of kidney stones or incorporating the persons in fear into their hell.

3. The person will wake up in a freezing cold room with no windows. Completely empty except for a screen. All of a sudden, the screen clicks to life. A title card pops up: "Adam Sandler's Jack & Jill". You will starve and freeze for what feels like eternity, until a door opens up to the next room. One through the door the person will walk into an empty white room as they must live every persons life they have caused harm to and realize how it effected them. Hell does not have a specific look, as people will make it through hell there own way. After so many weeks, months, or years it takes them to realize what they have done to other people. Not only will they gain wisdom from realizing what they have done, but become enlightened in a sense, experiencing all the bad things they have from a different point of view. The next room is their punishment so it justifies heir actions and tortures, pushes their limit, or just messes with the person. Depending on the person they will have redeemed themselves and walk the escalator to heaven, but some will stay in hell for eternity and get what they have deserved.

4. Well everyone goes to hell, and almost everyone can escape by redeeming themselves. The only people who cannot escape are pedophiles, and people who dedicate their whole life to be selfless and the will to make others suffer. I would give them the same punishment that they gave to other people, over and over again. Their are some truly evil people that should not escape and never would.

5. The phoenix is the symbol of hell, because everyone (with few exceptions) will be brought down into their own ashes, until they are "reborn" into a new person. They have gained wisdom, and redeemed themselves to be a better person overall. 

6. Everyone is in hell no exceptions. 

Free write: Superman

Man of Steel was so hype you don't even know. The acting sucked so bad but half the movie was a superman fight scene so that definitely made up for it. Superman is the most basic and unoriginal superhero but it doesn't even matter. He probably ended up killing 10,000+ people and didn't even care until he had to hill some family. There coming out with a Batman vs. Superman movie and like seriously I heard Batman wins, even a whole bunch of times in the comic books. Like Superman is basicly immortal and unbreakable. Killing Batman would be so easy.

Free write: Religion

Man these past couple months have been crazy for me. I have no idea what I'm doing in life or what I’m going to do but I just go where the breeze takes me. I’ve never been a religious dude but lately I think I’ve found myself and what I want to follow. My parents have always believed in god and always have had a strong influence on me but I never really had faith. I believe faith is just based off geography. I looked into synagogues, churches, cathedrals, and Buddhist temples lately.  I read the first and new testaments and was still not interested in any faith of those religions. I am very tolerant of religion but I have found Buddhism. I don’t believe in reincarnation or finding Nirvana. I want to focus on myself to be a better person and to have less materialistic things. I sound like a hippy but fighting over beliefs is just stupid and people need to chill out. So many lives have been lost do to all this hate ignorance and religion. Although I do respect religion I don’t respect the intolerance of some.  Sometimes you want to make the world a better place. Humanity is pretty crazy and weird.