Homework 8
- Read this article about Orthexia Nervosa
- Read this poem by St. Francis of Assisi.
- Play around with this site
- Read this Guide to Charisma
- Please comment on these articles in the comments section! What do you think is a message common to all of these sources? Why?
- Next week we will return to our viral video. Do some viral video research.
January 11th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I think the 1st and 2nd texts related to each other very well. In the orthorexia nervosa article, the subject gives up a portion of his or her life to pay an unhealthy attention to their food. In comparison the poem by St. Francis of Assisi is asking some ofone to give up every joy, desire, longing in their life for god, so ‘healthy eating habits’ to someone with orthorexia nervosa is their god.
I think the article about charisma fits in here because someone with charisma becomes the apple of the eye of someone with out charisma. So this ‘weaker’ person with out charisma can become so intrigued with this charismatic person that they mimic them. But i a strong person, like someone with charisma doesnt succumb to obsession because they are aware of themselves and know themselves and are healthy enough not to become obsessed.
I just generally think that obsession is a very unhealthy state because the person needs to become so attached to something because they think they ‘cant live without it’.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I think that all of the texts relate to each because they are about changing yourself for what you think is the better in terms of the subject of the article. In the poem by Francis of Assisi the subject of the article is likely to be a very religious person who feels that an obsession with god is all they need this rings true in the phrase, and title of the poem, “let us desire nothing else” as if to say “god is all I need”. In the article concerning orthorexia nervosa the subject is a person who has an obsession with eating healthy food. To me it sounds like a healthy obsession that has gone too far because society today constantly reminds us of how healthy we need to be. When someone is healthy to the point of self destruction it becomes an unhealthy obsession. With the article about charisma the subject is someone who doesn’t have the quality of charisma. It written as an inspiration to people lacking the quality telling the reader how far having charisma can take you in life and reminding the reader that charisma is something one can acquire. In the orthorexia article the subject thinks they are making themselves better, in the Francis of Assisi poem the subject is told to make themselves better and in the Step by Step Guide to Charisma the subject is told how they can make themselves better. Also, in every article some sort of obsession is implied directly or indirectly. In the charisma article the subject is expected to change the way they do things and how they present themselves to become more charismatic. The article reads, “Professor Wiseman estimates charisma is 50% innate and 50% trained.” This implies that the subject has to be “trained” so they can improve themselves. In the orthorexia nervosa article the subject has changed their life entirely for their obsession already the article tells us that “Those with this disorder take weight loss and healthy eating to an extreme level, limiting relationships and overall happiness”. In the Francis of Assisi poem the subject is told to change their views entirely to focus on one thing only, god, making it their obsession telling the subject to “wherever [they] are, in every place, at every hour, at every time of day, everyday and continually believe truly and humbly, and keep in our heart, and love, honor, adore, serve, praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks to the most high and supreme eternal God. These articles also imply how the obsession that they’ve described, directly or indirectly, will affect your relationship with others. In the orthorexia article the subject loses friends and distances themselves from others because their obsession requires all of their attention. In the charisma article the subject’s relationship with others is supposed to change for the better because they have improved themselves. In the Francis of Assisi poem the obsession is supposed to increase your bonds with others reminding the reader to “let nothing hinder us nothing separate us or nothing come between us.”
January 13th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
The texts all share the idea of priority. Each source discusses a different activity that someone dedicates a certain amount of themself to. Orthexia Nervosa is a disorder that occupies most of the sufferer’s time and energy. Those affected by the disease have decided that their eating habits are something they want to focus on in their lives. In the poem by Sir Francis Assisi, it encourages the reader that God is worth the full devotion of everyone. The break-up site connects with the idea of priority because it’s putting to rest one priority and opening the doors to another one; by breaking up, he/she is giving themself more room for new options. Lastly, in the Guide to Charisma, it raises the question of how important it is for someone to be charismatic. In my opinion (after reading the article), it’s extremely important because it affects all those around you. If someone wants to learn how to be charismatic, it’s saying that they care about being a positive person. One can make learning to be charismatic a priority if they truly care about adding to a happier environment.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
All of the readings had to do with one’s needs. Orthorexia Nervosa causes one to feel that they need to eat the right foods. They can’t help their need to eat right due to the disease. “Let us desire nothing else” tells the reader that everyone needs to think about and desire God, and God alone. BreakUpEmail.com can be used by people who need to break up with their boyfriend/girlfriend. These people may need more space, a more faithful boyfriend/girlfriend, find someone more mature, etc. “A step-by-step guide to charisma” would most likely be used by people who want or need to be charismatic.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
All texts are on some level about prioritizing one thing in your life to improve yourself. Often this pursuit of improvement becomes all-encompassing and thus an obsession. The article about Orthorexia Nervosa and the poem by Francis of Assisi both are about giving up everything else in your life in order to devote yourself to something “pure”. In the case of Orthorexia Nervosa this sacrifice is made in the name of “eating right” and this eating disorder causes the person afflicted with it to plan their lives around it. The poem asks for sacrifice to be made in the name of God and asks that those who devote themselves to Him plan their lives around him. The article on charisma was very much relevant in terms of the other two articles, but there were not as many parallels to be drawn. However, charisma often creates obsession, for those who lack it are drawn to those who posses it. One might argue that Jesus Christ is one of the most charismatic human beings to ever walk this earth, for thousands of years later he is still worshipped by many. One thing that struck me in all articles was that obsession is not innate, and neither is charisma. Both is cultivated, often both subconsciously and consciously. A desire to eat healthily may spiral into full-blown Orthorexia Nervosa. One does not become obsessed with God or a human being with that coming into contact with them and observing them enough for the obsession to be created. Although there may be a manic tendency that lies hidden beneath the surface, it must be stimulated before obsession can occur.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
The common theme in the texts was non-malicious obsession that essentially is manifested into a doctrine. Throughout the texts, obsessions are shown to dictate people’s lives beneficially.
The first text was about orthorexia nervosa, a mental disorder that makes one obsess over one’s dietting habits. Although an obsession (admittedly induced by a disease), it is a beneficial obsession that allows the person who has the disease to live longer as a result of healthy eating habits.
The second text, the poem, was obsession of faith. By obsessing over being good and ending up in heaven, Christians, as depicted by the poem, are obsessed with doing whatever they can do end up in heaven. Although this is misguided, the resulting behavior is arguably healthy to the individual and the community. However, such zealotry can have its downsides but that is for a different time.
The text on charisma is of a different nature although it reflects the same theme. “But don’t despair if you haven’t got these qualities because you can learn them. Professor Wiseman estimates charisma is 50% innate and 50% trained.” sums up my opinion on this text. “don’t despair” says that the reader might be obsessed about becoming charismatic. “50% trained” says they are in fact obsessed about becoming charismatic. This is again is arguably (Hitler was charasmatic and he wasn’t such a nice guy) beneficial because charisma is beneficial to the individual.
January 14th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I couldn’t find a connection between all four sources, but the three (excluding breakupemail.com) seem linked because they all deal with bettering oneself by obzessing over a position believed to be ideal. Whether it is eating healthy, being close to God, or being charismatic, the three articles share this common bond. Sometimes the obsession can be unhealthy, as in the Orthorexia Nervosa article, or other times it can be heavily necessary to success in life, as in the step-by-step guide to Charisma.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
There are several common themes in these texts. First is the desire to be accepted. Take the “Step-by-Step Guide to Charisma” for example. It is arguing that if people like you and that if you’re self-confident then there is a better chance that you’ll be liked by others, that people will accept you. I think this only true in social situations though. As it states “But recruitment consultants say charisma is not enough to con a good interviewer.” Good charisma, a good personality, and the ability to charm someone is not basis for obtaining a job. Next look at Orthorexia Nervosa. This trait seems to be largely based around the obsessor thinks people are viewing them. People who have Ortherexia Nervosa “view their won worth through the food they eat.” They think that what they eat defines them as a person, therefore defining them to the rest of the world and the people they’re close to. Then look at the poem “Let Us Desire Nothing Else.” Rather than definition and acceptance from peers and the people who surround us in life, Assisi is arguing that acceptance and defintion is only important when thinking about relationships with God. He argues that that relationship is the only one that matters and nothing else.
As a topic, I think the desire of acceptance is universal. Doesn’t everyone want to be accepted in some manner? It’s just that some people take it to larger extremes that can end up being harmful to their phyiscal and emotional being.
January 15th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
All three articles deal on some level with obsession. Orthorexia nervosa is the most obvious example, as it is a form of eating disorder, and eating disorders are by definition the products of obsession. While orthorexia nervosa may be good for one’s physical health, based on the symptoms of the disorder, it seems to control one’s mental and emotional health, as well as one’s social life. Days are spent obsessing over food; when to eat it, where to eat it, how it will be cooked etc. Orthorexia nervosa is the most extreme example of obsession in these three articles.
Next is the poem. Let Us Desire Nothing Else is about faith in God and worshiping God. Personally, I associate the word worship with obsession. Religion is, in my opinion, the most widely accepted form of obsession, because if you think about Christianity, for example, it’s a religion based around the ideas of worship, idolization, constant prayer, self-degradation, sacrifice (self-sacrifice), and control. In Christianity, God is all powerful, controls all things, and a “good Christian” asks God’s permission for everything and is continually thanking God for his blessings. This poem repeats all of these ideas and more, even going further by proposing for “us” to desire nothing more.
Lastly, the charisma article exemplifies obsession in many ways. For one thing, people who are at an age at which “learning” a personal quality such as charisma is possible, then they should be old enough to have developed ways to get what they want in life outside of charm. The people at whom this article was aimed are people who have most likely had unsuccessful social and/or professional lives, and are looking for new ways to boost their social and/or professional appeal. A confidence tutor is even quoted. People desperate enough to hire a confidence tutor (suggesting ongoing lessons) are clearly, at some level, obsessed with cofidence/charm/charisma and/or their lack of said qualities.
January 15th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
the “Ortherexia Nervosa” article and poem by St. Francis of Assisi are very similar because they both express the need to prioritize one key factor in life. This one key factor becomes an obsession. In the “Ortherexia Nervosa” article, the key factory/obsession revolves around the individual’s constant need to maintain a healthy diet, which in turn actually causes more pain than benefits. The poem by St. Francis of Assisi revolves around the idea of God and his almightiness. Both of these readings stress the point of complete and utter dependence upon these singular factors.
On a broader scheme of things i believe that all of these articles relate to each other because they all really push to make one’s self feel better. The email generator is a way for people who don’t know what to say express their feelings. It takes no thought and produces a usable letter that can be applicable to any desired situation. The charisma article speaks about how, in general, charismatic people are very well received and loved. In the past people believed that you must inherit charisma from genes or naturally acquire it. But this article expresses the opinion that you can actually learn how to be more charismatic. It is a way to better yourself. The Ortherexia Dervosa article speaks about how these people try to keep themselves healthy by keeping to a strict diet. This is supposedly a way to better themselves. When people have no one else to turn to, God is usually the answer. St. Francis of Assisi preaches that if you live your life by god, your life will be better and more fulfilling. All these articles push the idea of bettering yourself. But i believe that the first two articles are mainly directed towards obsession.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:13 am
The similarity between the first two sources is clear. Orthorexia Nervosa is about an obsession with food; an obsession that limits the attention paid to other aspects of life. This obsession is very similar to the obsession with God in the poem. In the poem, God is the top priority and is more important than anything else. Also, people with Orthorexia Nervosa and people who are obsessed with their belief in God both look down on people that are unlike them. They see people who don’t share their obsession as inferior.
The third source, charisma, does not fit in with the other two as well, but there is a connection. The third source deals with trying to create an obsession. Being charismatic is all about making yourself seem more important. If someone is charismatic, then suddenly you will pay more attention to them and less attention to other things. They will become your obsession, like healthy food or God, and will have some control over you.