1. What is Nihilism? Is it correct to say it is the belief
in nothing?
Nihilism is the belief that all values are
baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is not correct to say
it is a belief in nothing because it has a system of belief with a secret
desire to destroy life. Paradoxically, Nihilism
is not just an urge to destroy, but has a creative aspect provided that what is
created is something new and not just releasing the old. Fredrich Nietzche
(1844-1900) a German nihilist saw nihilism as a kind of spiritual sickness that
was diagnosed in Christianity and by extension of most Western
Cultures which was based on Christian values. In a Sense, Nihilism is rooted in
the incompatibility between Christian morals and our own natural instincts
(Repression) which builds up pressure and tension that manifests' itself in
different ways (such as: Dancing Mania).
2. What are the differences between Greco- Roman and
Judeo-Christian values according to Nietzsche? Which values does he believe are
better for living a full and healthy life and why?
According to Nietzsche, the
difference between the Greco-Roman's values and Judeo-Christian values was the
fact that both groups’ lifestyles are centered mainly on religious belief. The
Judaeo/ Christian tradition contributed both good and bad elements to western
society. Among the good elements were concepts of free will, charity and love.
Among, the bad element was concepts of exclusivity, guilt and persecution.
Nietzsche view expressed that
fundamentalist Christianity was not an open minded religion as
Greco-Roman paganism, which often a times lead to crusades. Also,
early Christians did not associate themselves with the rules and culture of the
Romans. In a sense, Christians destroyed Romans' value to strengthen
their own values, and this was nihilistic. The Roman ideals were centered on loyalty,
devotion to family and reverence for the gods.
3. Why is Dada art so pessimistic
and bizarre? What groups in Germany society where Dada artists trying to
discredit and undermine?
Dada art
was so pessimistic and bizarre because it was a traumatic response to
the World War I. It was an artistic movement against the oppression
of bourgeoisie, politics and economist,. Dada was an artistic movement
that self-consciously styled itself as "anti-art" that defied the
conventional notions of artistic beauty and correctness .
The Dada movement was meant to break away from German militarism and
nationalism; German bourgeoisie and German socialism. The artists
that made up this movement found very little interest in contemporary
society worth preserving. Their view was that German society was corrupt and
built on exploitation and oppression and needed to be destroyed before anything
new could be created.
4. How many jobs does Dr. Caligari have in
the film?
Dr. Caligari had two
Jobs:
1.
Somnambulist (Sleep walker)
2. A
Sinister doctor of the institution.
5. Why does Siddhartha leave his father?
Siddhartha's father, Brahman was admired, quiet, noble in his
manner, pure, wise but he never had peace and was still searching for the
meaning of life, which was mostly common among the western traditions.
Like the generation of the era, Siddhartha left his father because he
wanted enlightenment, he rejects teachings in place of beauty. He wanted to
explore the randomness of life in the eastern world. One of his ultimate goal
was to have a mind that was unselfish in every aspect of his body and soul(such
as emptying his thirst, joy, dream, sorrows and wishing). He condemned
teachers as not having anything to teach him and he could only obtain knowledge
by experiencing. His departure from his father begins from joining the Semana
(Holy Men)
6. How does Cesare "die" in the
film?
Cesare "died" in the
film while running away from Francis, he gets a heart attack and dies.
7. Why is the river so important to Siddhartha at the end
of the Novel?
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