Reading response 10/15

The Andy Warhol piece was a great piece of literature that really advocated the idea of freedom. Much like his paintings, his writing is very unique. He mentions this idea of emptiness and how he wants people to embrace the idea of having less and appreciating a more simple lifestyle. Ironically he is an artist who sells his work to take up the emptiness in people's houses so it's kind of juxtaposed in a sense. He also talks about life and death. He says, "What makes a person spend time being sad when they could be happy?" (112). This really stood out to me because of the context in which he uses it. He talks about a man jumping out of a window and killing himself and on lookers observe and then change the subject within a matter of minutes. This quote really gave me mixed feelings. Part of me understands what he's saying because of the context in which he uses it. Nobody wants to stare at a dead body for longer than they have to. But, at the same time, if that was me on the ground I would hope people would be upset. It really made me think of the mark I want to leave on this earth and I think that's Warhol's bigger picture. Everyone should embrace themselves that way people will remember them for who they are.

I also liked K Silem Mohammed's work because it talked about how a handful of people really control the vast majority or people. I like when he says, "Excessivism is when it starts to become a problem -- when it causes you to drop out of high school, become a bum and die of alcoholism at the age of 26" (932). Mohammed mentioned that he conforms like the rest of us, but this idea that their is a fine line between conforming and embracing. Some people embrace societal trends too much and eventually it consumes them. A lot of people like to party and drink, but there becomes a point when that's all you do and it will always defeat you. Mohammed uses alcoholism in youths to prove his point. I like that both writers use realistic ideas to support their statements.