pg.2 "For you, a thousand times over." -Hassan
At this point in the novel, this line is stated only as a memory in Amir's mind. The precise context from which this quote is taken is not yet revealed, but knowing that Hassan and Amir are good friends, this quote gives a window into the depth and significance of their friendship. The amount of devotion implied by the thought of doing something a thousand times for one person could only be present in a deep and true friendship of a unique and unparalleled quality.
pg. 39 "They were foreign sounds to us then. The generation of Afghan children whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire was not yet born." -Amir (narrator)
This quote is stated by Amir as the narrator, in retrospect, referring to the environment of Afghanistan in the early 1980's, into which children were born and raised in a war-torn environment and hard-wired for simple survival. This concept has a modern application, in that there will be another generation of such children, as a result of US military action against the Taliban in post-9/11 Afghanistan, twenty years later. That first generation's children, who would spend their lives rebuilding a broken nation would, themselves, give birth to a generation that would be cursed to face the very same nightmare as their grandparents.
p. 45 "He'd [Hassan] referred to Assef as "Agha" [a term of reverence/respect], and I wondered briefly what it must be like to live with such an ingrained sense of place in one's hierarchy." -Amir(narrator).
This quote captures the essence of Hassan's nature as known to Amir. Hassan would even address his enemy with honour and respect as society demanded. The quote represents the reoccurring concept/fact that inevitably separates the two friends: they are of different classes. Because of this, society expects different interests and loyalties from each, and therefore, expects that they would not be friends. Other than Assef's direct opposition to their friendship, this truth remains as the only other major obstacle throughout the course of their friendship.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Kite Runner Journal Entry #1
"The generation of Afghan children whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire was not yet born." p. 37- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Most of my generation can admit to never before having heard the name of Afghanistan without so much as having a second thought about it. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was getting ready for my first day of grade six, but my nation was getting ready for war; a war to take place in the still recovering nation of Afghanistan.
Anyone born as late as the 1970's might remember the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that had it annexed into the USSR for twenty years, which is the event that The Kite Runner is set around. It was this invasion that gave way to bloody conflict.
In the novel, the narrator, Amir, describes the nature of the Afghan people in relation to this conflict. "Abhorring rules and embracing customs" were qualities of his people, in essence being a deadly formula should an outside power hope to usurp control of the country. The Afghan people fought for their customs and fought against the rules that the Soviet machine found ease with in some nations.
Adamantly in opposition to Soviet exploits of any kind was our saviour and protector America, who took steps toward preparing this country for a violent, but effective response. The USA fought back with the Taliban, and left them in Afghanistan to continue doing the things the way that they thought things should be done.
Out of this conflict, as suggested by the above passage from the novel, a generation was born. This generation , "whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire", was raised still with the ingrained sense of image, abhorring rules and embracing customs.
Also having Islam at its core of influence, it became known throughout the mosques that the USA was the new enemy, hoping to apply rules and replace holy customs with their own. It didn't take much more than a charismatic man of this position to take steps to fighting this enemy. The USA endured this blow and retaliated with that which the Muslim extremists had originally feared. Now, the USA is in the Middle East, applying their own rules to Afghanistan and Iraq alike. They finished their old business in Iraq with the bold Saddam Hussein and still remain present. Making their power known in the form of familiar military weaponry, and recreating the necessary environment for a new "generation of Afghan children whose ears would no nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire," beginning the cycle anew.
Most of my generation can admit to never before having heard the name of Afghanistan without so much as having a second thought about it. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was getting ready for my first day of grade six, but my nation was getting ready for war; a war to take place in the still recovering nation of Afghanistan.
Anyone born as late as the 1970's might remember the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that had it annexed into the USSR for twenty years, which is the event that The Kite Runner is set around. It was this invasion that gave way to bloody conflict.
In the novel, the narrator, Amir, describes the nature of the Afghan people in relation to this conflict. "Abhorring rules and embracing customs" were qualities of his people, in essence being a deadly formula should an outside power hope to usurp control of the country. The Afghan people fought for their customs and fought against the rules that the Soviet machine found ease with in some nations.
Adamantly in opposition to Soviet exploits of any kind was our saviour and protector America, who took steps toward preparing this country for a violent, but effective response. The USA fought back with the Taliban, and left them in Afghanistan to continue doing the things the way that they thought things should be done.
Out of this conflict, as suggested by the above passage from the novel, a generation was born. This generation , "whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire", was raised still with the ingrained sense of image, abhorring rules and embracing customs.
Also having Islam at its core of influence, it became known throughout the mosques that the USA was the new enemy, hoping to apply rules and replace holy customs with their own. It didn't take much more than a charismatic man of this position to take steps to fighting this enemy. The USA endured this blow and retaliated with that which the Muslim extremists had originally feared. Now, the USA is in the Middle East, applying their own rules to Afghanistan and Iraq alike. They finished their old business in Iraq with the bold Saddam Hussein and still remain present. Making their power known in the form of familiar military weaponry, and recreating the necessary environment for a new "generation of Afghan children whose ears would no nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire," beginning the cycle anew.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Shadow of the Colossus
For the strict, old-fashioned critic that believes video games will never make their way onto the stage as a true art form, may the Shadow of the Colossus be casted on your ignorant existence. For anyone with the capability of running a Playstation 2 device, I recommend you take some time alone in a quiet home and prepare for a ride of adventure and emotion.
Upon the introduction cinematic, Shadow of the Colossus immerses the player into a world that immediately demands respect. Traversing the harsh terrain on his steadfast steed is our mysterious unnamed hero, and an equally mysterious package on the front of the saddle, with shape of a human body. Our hero finally makes his way to two towers marking a narrow entrance to what is revealed to be a gloriously illuminated valley of many elements and terrains, with a tall palace at it's centre. As he enters he must ride on an enormous narrow bridge, a miracle of engineering in itself, which spans halfway across the valley to the middle of the tower. The adventure begins.
A game of pattern and sequence, our hero, Wander (named in sources other than the game itself), travels blindly through all types of beautifully designed landscape to the very resting places of the sleeping giants of many elements that our hero must defeat. The beasts to be defeated all average between twenty to up to five hundred feet long/tall, and include humanoids, lizards, tortoises, electric eels, lions, boars, bulls, dragons, birds, worms and more. Some are threatening from the start and demand no moral conflict to defeat. Others will leave the player wondering who was truly the enemy between themselves and the fallen behemoth or leviathan unceremoniously collapsed on the ground before them.
The game is full of wordless sub-plots that are left to the player to piece together throughout the adventure, including the relationship between our hero and his faithful horse, Agro, as well as the nature of the very motives of the main character, himself. The lengthy ending is worth the half-hour or so it takes to pass, and brings satisfactory closure to the story. The game grants you moments of control during this ending, but your performance during this time is unimportant, as the same outcome will result.
Other features to be enjoyed after the original completion of the game include a time attack feature, unlockable items and neatly-nestled secrets. Replay value is quite high, but should be reserved for your own personal interaction with the game. This game is not recommended to entertain a group of friends or a party, as the game shines best with an audience of one. A rabble of friends is likely to distract the player and take away from the magic of the experience, although it does look pretty impressive to see a little man take down an enormous flying dragon with a small sword and a bow.
Shadow of the Colossus is more of an experience than a game. It is one that must be given a chance by gamers of any age or appreciation for the action-adventure genre of video games. It is a solemn excursion into a different world, with focus on being a work of art, rather than a another hyped-up money-maker destined ruin the video game's reputation as an art form.
Upon the introduction cinematic, Shadow of the Colossus immerses the player into a world that immediately demands respect. Traversing the harsh terrain on his steadfast steed is our mysterious unnamed hero, and an equally mysterious package on the front of the saddle, with shape of a human body. Our hero finally makes his way to two towers marking a narrow entrance to what is revealed to be a gloriously illuminated valley of many elements and terrains, with a tall palace at it's centre. As he enters he must ride on an enormous narrow bridge, a miracle of engineering in itself, which spans halfway across the valley to the middle of the tower. The adventure begins.
A game of pattern and sequence, our hero, Wander (named in sources other than the game itself), travels blindly through all types of beautifully designed landscape to the very resting places of the sleeping giants of many elements that our hero must defeat. The beasts to be defeated all average between twenty to up to five hundred feet long/tall, and include humanoids, lizards, tortoises, electric eels, lions, boars, bulls, dragons, birds, worms and more. Some are threatening from the start and demand no moral conflict to defeat. Others will leave the player wondering who was truly the enemy between themselves and the fallen behemoth or leviathan unceremoniously collapsed on the ground before them.
The game is full of wordless sub-plots that are left to the player to piece together throughout the adventure, including the relationship between our hero and his faithful horse, Agro, as well as the nature of the very motives of the main character, himself. The lengthy ending is worth the half-hour or so it takes to pass, and brings satisfactory closure to the story. The game grants you moments of control during this ending, but your performance during this time is unimportant, as the same outcome will result.
Other features to be enjoyed after the original completion of the game include a time attack feature, unlockable items and neatly-nestled secrets. Replay value is quite high, but should be reserved for your own personal interaction with the game. This game is not recommended to entertain a group of friends or a party, as the game shines best with an audience of one. A rabble of friends is likely to distract the player and take away from the magic of the experience, although it does look pretty impressive to see a little man take down an enormous flying dragon with a small sword and a bow.
Shadow of the Colossus is more of an experience than a game. It is one that must be given a chance by gamers of any age or appreciation for the action-adventure genre of video games. It is a solemn excursion into a different world, with focus on being a work of art, rather than a another hyped-up money-maker destined ruin the video game's reputation as an art form.
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