Welcome

Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. Everything has been figured out, except how to live. One always dies too soon or too late. And yet, life is there, finished. The line is drawn, and it must all be added up. You are nothing other than your life. There is only one day left, always starting over. It is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk. We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what we are, that is the fact. When you live alone you no longer know what it is to tell a story: the plausible disappears at the same time as the friends. You let events flow by too.Suddenly you see people appear who speak and then go away; you plunge into stories of which you can't make head or tail. You'd make a terrible witness. It is true that people who live in society have learned how to see themselves in mirrors as they appear to their friends. Luckily, I only have a few...

Dr Shaw is a lecturer in Further Education at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. She also offers philosophy courses at the School of Continuing Education, Lifelong learning, at the University of Liverpool. In 2015, she has completed her Doctorate in philosophy with a focus on existentialism, the equilibrium doctrine and narrative. She has worked as a teacher of English and Comparative literature and Philosophy at The American University in Cairo, Egypt where she also obtained her BA (Hons). Dr Shaw has an MA in Philosophy and Literature from the University of East Anglia where she also taught on a number of humanities subjects. Whilst working in North Wales in Further education, she gained a PGCE aimed at teaching in FE and HE sectors. Dr Shaw moved to Liverpool in 2010 where she now resides.

Interests: Existentialism, Narrative, Comparative Literature, Feminist Thought, Public Speaking, Arab Existentialism, Philosophy of Education, Art, Music, Film and Theatre, Greek Mythology, Existential counsellor and psychotherapist.

https://liverpool.academia.edu/ShereenHamedShaw


Thursday 28 February 2013

Cloud Atlas Sextet - Piano XXXL

  25th Feb, 2013 Film

Finally managed to go see the new film Cloud Atlas after checking the trailer out many times for months. It was not far from what I expected, in fact, I was happy that it met every single expectation I had in mind. Futuristic, yes, creative, yes, imaginative, defiantly, musical and romantic, for sure and the icing on the cake, it was philosophical.

The questions posed by the actors caused the lamp above my head to light up and my imagination to go wild.

Some of the beautiful quotes in Cloud Atlas that I cannot get out of my head by David Mitchell are:

“My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?” 

“Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” 


“You say you're 'depressed' - all i see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn't mean you're defective - it just means you're human.”

"suicide takes considerable courage...."

“What is any ocean but a multitude of drops?” “& only as you gasp your dying breath shall you understand, your life amounted to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean!"

How can we not think when we hear these words. I don't think anyone could ignore the urge for inquiring within oneself about the gush of emotions that one feels when these words are uttered. I know for sure that I found it impossible and it was, to me, like an invitation to allow myself to take this opportunity to think without being disrupted by others' presence or sounds. What a bliss it is to be in a cinema theatre...there is always pleasure in darkness. What really complimented the film experience though was this perfect musical piece that I felt the need to share. Enjoy