Media for The Reaction Entry 2

MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING

It's the ending scene of the movie "My best friend's wedding". I chose this video, because it's closely relevant to the article "Can Women and men be friends?". The movies tells about a story of 3 people, 1 man and 2 women. It's a story of a love triangle. It demonstrates a disadvantage of a woman man friendship if one side is feeling differently. I do not object to woman and man friendship; in fact, I strongly defend this situation if it is done in right way. However, in some cases, these situation may appear. I liked the movie in general, these kind of affections are usual in today's world. However, a best friend should not feel any kind of affection towards the other friend. It may cause some complicated circumstances. In brief, men and women can be friends, even best friends, only if the relation between them consist of no love.

Media for Journal 3

4+4+4 EDUCATION SYSTEM

In this Turkish video, some interviews are carried out upon some citizens and experts. It demonstrates the possible affected psychology of children towards 4+4+4 education system in Turkey. This news channel interview is very informative about understanding the mood of children. Because, they are the ones who will go to school at early age. They are the only ones who will be affected by this regulation. I don't think that It's appropriate for children to start school before the age of 7 (maybe some cases, I could be 6). Their point of view should be taken into consideration while impleneming such systems. I liked this interview, It gives some idea about how children may react this situation.

Video for Journal 5

The Philosophy and Epistemology of Renê Descartes

     In this video, the narrator mentions about the philosophy and epistemology of Descartes. He explains the way Descartes thought how one can know what is true, real, or exist. It's the main question for Philosophy, of course. The narrator supports Descartes' world view, gives references from him. Even he calls Descartes a genius. Descartes attributes existence to thought. If I'm able to think, I have to be exist, something has to be exist. In the video, the man talks about Descartes' life a little bit. He tells where he came from, where he went to, where he was born, etc. It may seem to be unnecessary thing, but I think It's required to understand the conditions of the period he lived in. Then, he talks about the contributions of Descartes to the modern philosophy. He expalins the sentence "I'm thinking, therefore I am" very neatly and briefly. Therefore, anyone who knows a little bit English can easily understand this topic. Generally, I found this media very beneficial and professional. He knows what to tell, and knows how to tell. There are no distracting elements in the video. Nevertheless, some image could be more useful for better understanding of Descartes. 

Video for Journal 4

THE EVOLUTION AND SOUNDS OF RADIOHEAD

In this video, we can see the instrumental richness and variety of Radiohead year by year. As you can see, Radihead constantly changes its sound,rhytms, and of course the instruments they play. Because each member of the band can play more than one musical instrument, they are able to create very authentic tracks. I think their talent also gives a lot of pleasure while listening them. Both the vocalist's and the instruments' voices are very relieving. As we look at the dates of the tracks, It is obvious that they are very experienced in music industry. The quality of tracks are really fascinating. They're full of emotions. 

   Video making method is average, but It could be better. The slides between tracks could be smooth, so one can feel the exact emotions without any distraction. Nevertheless, It is a good compilation and very beneficial to compare the changes year by year.

Journal 4

The Instrument Effect of A Band: Radiohead

The role of instruments is undeniable about musician’s creating music. In order to state the place and importance of instruments about creating music, this subject is referred by addressing the band Radiohead.
The reason of constantly changing music style of Radiohead is that band members have different talents and musical pleasures. In the band, only the lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood gets classical music training . Greenwood is a multi-instrumentalist who is able to play manual, ondes martenot, banjo, viola, harmonica, and any and all musical instruments besides guitar. In recent years, electronic and digital sound playing tools have got involved the instruments he is using. However, he uses a part of them only during concerts. Greenwood is also making the arrangement of stringed orchestras in Radiohead tracks such as “Climbing Up the Walls”, “How to Disappear Completely”, “Pyramid Song”, and “Faust Arp”. Thom Yorke also plays guitar and piano. Once upon a time, he was Dj in a techno band named as “Flickernoise” at Exeter University2. Yorke focusing on electronic music completely said that if he was forced to make a decision between making music with guitar and electronic music, he would choose the electronic music, on a radio program in 20033.
During the band’s shifting period about music style from guitar to electronic, band members had developed more flexibility about instrument usage. In this situation, all members can specify their positions according to instrumental requirements of a song. During the records of Kid A and Amnesiac, while Thom Yorke was playing manual and bass guitar, the lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood was playing ondes martenot rather than guitar; and bass guitarist Colin Greenwood was handling with modeling. While Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway were using guitar and drum as main instruments, they were also using drum machine and digital sound playing tools. There were other expansions in the records Hail to the Thief in 2003. Yorke expressed it as “My authority in the band was unbalanced and I could mess up the band’s order at all costs. Now the situation is healthier, more democratic than before.”
According to this examination, the most important instrument in the band Radiohead is guitar from my point of view. Guitar is indispensable whether other instruments take place or not. Guitar is still holding its own place by preserving its routine importance about producing music even if musicians head towards current and popular music, even if music is made in electronic environment.

Journal 5

WHO IS DESCARTES?

DESCARTES' DOUBT

René Descartes has been called as the “Father of Modern Philosophy”. His philosophy is still studied at the present time. He was born in the city which is now called “Descartes” in France, in 1596. He is best known for his philosophical statement “Cogito ergo sum” which means “I think therefore I am”. In this writing, I will try to explain what he means by this expression.

Descartes’s philosophical goal was to find the absolute certainty. To achieve absolute certainty, Descartes only accepts the things he could verify with his mind as true. He started doubting everything and saw that there are very few things he could be sure about. Descartes’s starting point was subjective. His attitude was skeptical. He used the method of doubt while he is searching for certain knowledge. He questions how he can be sure that he is sitting by the fire, holding a piece of paper. He can be dreaming or being deceived by a demon. After all, he comes to the conclusion that even if he dreams or a demon deceives him, there is something dreaming or being deceived. There is something indubitable. He must exist in order to be deceived by a demon. He must exist to doubt from things. Doubting is a mental activity and it requires an “I” to practice the activity. As long as he thinks, he exists. He concluded that he must exist because he is thinking. Although he is being deceived or he is dreaming, there is something thinking. At that point, Descartes becomes sure that “I” exists. So, he said that “I think therefore I am.”

Journal 3

TURKISH EDUCATION AND 4+4+4

Turkish education system has undergone a lot of changes through history. Lately there is a new system that dividing the compulsory education into 3 phases which are 4+4+4. This system has drawn reaction from in Turkey. First of all, opposing parties objected to this system due to its content. Because, they think that it’s an on purpose action from government. They defend that government wants to integrate some ideological structures into educational system. For example, turban is a controversial and elective Quran course makes available to wear turban in secondary grades at schools.  Secondly, civil people have also reacted against the government because of this system. Some parents defend that their children shouldn’t be compelled for some obligatory courses which are actually should be elective.

 Another parent reaction is that turban should not be put into primary schools. Because, according to them, school should not consist of religious content. The last but not the least is that the cost of this change is very high, and opposing parties are thinking it as waste of money. To conclude, new educational system of Turkey has drawn strong negative reactions both politics and civil people, but it has already become a part of education system.