What It Means To Be Human

Being human is something unique. We are the only creatures that can express ourselves and think about the world around us. Through human experience we learn how to adapt and to survive, and through that we also express how we did it too. It is these qualities that make us who we are, and what we offer to the rest of the world.

Humans never really skim over things. We always are looking for meaning, and truth. We wouldn't be able to do this without using our minds. Even though the mind is a single thing, it has two parts; the left and the right, which "control" some human qualities. The right side of the brain is the more artistic side, which involves emotions, music, intuition, imagination, and being. The left side is the more intellectual side, and involves, mathematics, writing, linear thinking, analysis, and doing. These two parts are essential in making a human a being like no other. It's not just the brain that makes us human, but how we use it. In the collage excersize, we analyzed photos on the board and had to interpret the people's facial expressions and body language to make a conclusion on what makes human beings have universal expressions. The other activity we did was the symbolic activity, in which everyone had to bring an object that was had meaning to them, and we as a class analyzed the universal meanings to the personal meanings.  It is through symbols and analyzing that humans are able to make connections with the outside world.

Every animal has some sort of "territory," but humans have something else called sacred space. It can be anything, a religious structure, a forest, etc... The sacred space project had just few of the sacred spaces that are known to humans. The one structure that our group did was the Brihadeeswara Temple. The temple was a place for Hindu worship and was definitely a very sacred spot. Some places were inaccessible to non-Hindu worshipers, because it was so sacred. It's not just buildings that are sacred to humans. In the Aborigines movie the Aborigines land was extremely sacred, and full of good and bad "spirits." The culture itself was very religious in everything they did. In the Tempest the island was a sacred spot and a connection of nature to Prospero who guarded the island. Through the whole story Prospero manipulates those who have done him wrong with his magic powers, and in the end he ends up resolving the problems he had and decides to leave the island with them. The connection with sacred spaces and humans is that we hold them dear to us and we have new experiences and feeling when inside a sacred space.    

Humans, unlike many creatures can feel love. Not only that, but we are capable of finding beauty in things that other creatures are unable to see, such as a sunset. It's not just the ability to see art that humans are able to do, but we can also create art. In the Ancient Sculpture bookwork, they showed the evolution of art as times and culture change. It also showed how various places around the world defined beauty, such as women having protruding stomachs and big thighs. In How Art Made the World movie, it showed ow beauty is seen in specific time periods, and what makes humans portray themselves differently. For example, when they talked about the Egyptian and how their art is not realistic at all, they wondered why humans back then were making them this way. They figured out that the Egyptians had a grid-like system that was used in every piece of their art. This showed that they wanted everyone to look exactly the same. In All the Mornings of the World, there is a different type of art, and that is music. Sainte Columbe's playing of the viole was moving, and gave the audience a whole new meaning of art. He would constantly talk about those that just imitate songs, but could never play music. Through all different experiences and emotions, humans are able to create all types of art which makes us like no other being.

It is not just our feeling and experiences that make us human, but what laws and ethics that we have. In nature, there are no laws or ethics that creature abide by, and as humans we do not agree. We all have universal laws and societal laws. In The Stranger the main character had no code of ethics which made him seem like a emotionless "monster." Even when he killed a man he felt no remorse or felt that he didn't do anything wrong. Though the character was not likable by readers, he was symbolic proof that we need ethics and morals. Not only is there laws in society, but in religion as well. In The Ten Commandment, Sermon on the Mount, Holiness Code, and the Eightfold Path there are very similar laws that followers abide and some that are very different. Though three of the passages from the list are from the Bible they all have different laws, and some that are the same as the Eightfold Path, which shows that these laws are universal. There are those who sometimes question ethics and laws, and those are philosophers. For instance, Ayn Rand thought that everyone should look our for themselves and not to care for those around them. If society followed that type of teaching, we wouldn't have many laws or ethics. Humans need laws and ethics to keep balance in our lives and to know from right and wrong.

Humans huge question is where will we go when we die? This is where the inner journey and meaning of human existence comes from. Some people think that no matter what we do we will die and there will be nothing more, but others believe that if we do good deeds and live a pious life we shall seek eternal life. In the hero's journey a person must travel alone to some far away land and into the "abyss" and then come back as a hero. Not only do they gain knowledge of the world, but they contribute to human kind and learn about their true selves. In Hamlet, he would constantly talk about how humans, no matter how great they were always end up being worm food. Though he struggled with this reality he finally accepts this when he is faced with possible death. It is not just myths and legends that the hero's journey occurs, but to every day people who want to face the treacherous journey. We have the hero's journey to not only keep records of myths, but to give us a sort of "guideline" to live our lives as heroes. Not only would this be a noble way of living, but it would make a person feel good about what they have contributed to the existence of humans.