Once Upon A Blog

Enkidu’s tragic death didn’t have a real explanation (detailed one) until this tablet, not only was the death depicted in an original fashion but it offered the explanation and depicted more examples of the strange relationship among Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Several words could characterize relationship aspects that may not be presented through the rest of the book. Take for instance the following passage and the wording on it:

“The Cry has seized mi servant, Enkidu, whom I sent to bring me back from the world down there the Drum and the Drumstick I had that fell down through a hole on the floor of the Upper World.” Pg 90. Tablet 12.

Notice the use of the word servant and how Gilgamesh refers to Enkidu, the companion using this language that could be used as reference to call someone less important than Enkidu. Somehow it downgrades Enkidu significantly.

Nevertheless Enkidu manages to have his spirit revisit Gilgamesh, in this visit, even though he couldn’t, Enkidu tells Gilgamesh about his journey to the “inferno” with the Cry. Again we see how Gilgamesh makes Enkidu “look back”, or break his promises. This way Gilgamesh brings his own bad fortune and his own weeping, he was warned about the consequences of curiosity but this is why he now mourns.

“Now tell me how it is in the Nether World.”

“I will not tell you. If I told you how it is in the Nether World, the arrangements of things, you would sit and weep because I told you.”

“Now tell me how it is although I may sit and weep because of what you told me.”Pg 90. Tablet 12.

The ending leaves us doubting about the true colors of certain characteristics in the book, nevertheless it gives us a general idea of what did modern literature evolved from. Even though it is an old book, it by no means suggests that it is bad.

“A good book has no ending.” ~R.D. Cumming

*Ensemble: an assemblage of parts or details (as in a work of art) considered as forming a whole

During this tablet salvation is a recurrent theme. Not only is it mentioned repeatedly but it also makes reference to other biblical and extremely important stories. Take for instance the crucial and very evident resemblance to the Noe's Arch, biblical fable. Which deals with a man who has one of the most religious and orthodox views; who is told to make an arch with 2 opposite sex members of all species because a flood would take place. It made an extremely close connection to the following quote: "Take with you on a boat you build, an instance of each living thing so that they may be safe from obliteration in the flood." pg 66 Tablet 11

Every culture claims to have a specific beginning and a specific ending, a very literal WHY? Of life, they try to explain why many things are happening always and constantly. In these tablets Gilgamesh in is the pursuit of salvation, seeing that he could not save him un-biological brother, Enkidu he is on the path of saving himself from a similar destiny as Enkidu. Nevertheless I am attracted to the very ending of tablet 10, in which there the basic rules and standards for who lives and who dies are mentioned in such passage.

"How long does a building stand before it falls? How long does a contract last? How long will brothers

share the inheritance before they quarrel?

How long does hatred, for that matter, last?

Time after time the river has risen and flooded.

The insects leave a cocoon to live but for a minute.

How long is the eye able to look at the sun?

From the very beginning nothing at all has lasted.

See how the dead and the sleeping resemble each other.

Seen together, they are image of death.

The simple man and the ruler resemble each other.

The face of one will be darkened like one of the other.

The Anunnaki gathered in assembly;

Mammetum, Mother Goddess, she was with them.

There they have established that there is life and death. The day of death is set, yet not made known.” Tablet10. Pg. 64

Basically it adds up to nothing lasts for ever, we have to die someday, somehow but nothing will tell us. It will happen, and there is nothing to stop it, it is meant to be, the balance of the world will be kept serene if these guidelines are followed. These guidelines may not only apply to the Sumerian culture of the time, but as said previously the Summer legacies carry on through generations and generations, to the point where many religions and beliefs are connected in ideals by this one “common destiny”.

• “Carpe diem”, Seize The day!

Previously I stated that there was a bond, even a homosexual connection among Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Scratch that, in this tablet the brotherly love representation is as strong as it can be. Not only does Gilgamesh mourn deeply to the death of Enkidu but he wishes him to have a mother, a brother, a temple. A death worthy of a god.

Women are always an influential party in films, books, poems, and even casual conversations. The main role of the woman is to complement the man; to either make him or destroy him; this is the case in nearly all of the “women related scenarios”. Take the case of “Scent of a Woman”, a 1992 classic in which Al Paccino interprets a suicidal coronel who admired every aspect of every woman. He is blind, yet he can describe up to the last strand of a woman’s hair my getting her essence and a scent of her. It might be this same scent, which saves him from his suicidal attempts.

Not only in this film, but in many other situations as well, take for example the “Anna of Byzantium”, a Tracy Barret book, which deals with the dilemma of a female heir who fights endlessly to get her rightful place in her father’s reign. Not only does she commit several unworthy acts but she is not willing to let her devious brother take over what is rightfully hers. Again we see the women to man conflict in which she can be a salvation or the men’s doom or main antagonist.

Even art works have that delusion for a woman. The highly known and admired Van Gogh painting in which his left ear appears wrapped tightly with a bandage result to be connected to a woman related anecdote. As history confirms Van Gogh amputated his left ear with a razor, he then goes to his favorite brothel where he gifts his ear to a prostitute. The ear was conserved for a few days and then thrown away.

As you can see women are present even in the most male predominant societies or legacies (books, films, paintings). No matter how diverse or male centered a community is a woman will always have an influential role upon the men.

During these tablets of Gilgamesh, the moral support of the 2 main characters and the interpretation of the dreams they have, form a crucial part to the main theme on this section. These dreams which seemed horrid at plain sight, where transformed into an interpretation of good fortune and a heroic future. They where a glimpse of what was soon to come. Perhaps one might take from this shift, the idea that nothing is really what it is. If something makes you sad or mad thing beyond it and look at the pleasure of misery. Not only view negative situations as an opportunity for a good outcome, but search for that opportunity and make it happen. Opportunities are chances that are unique and dreams can be interpreted as wishes from the heart, it is that subconscious impulse to send a message to a fully rested body.

According to dictionary.com, dreams are the following; . "1.A state of abstraction; a trance. 2. A wild fancy or hope. 3. A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep." Makes you think; Are these the same as the definition of a dream on the Epic of Gilgamesh? Is there a "beyond connection" among Enkidu and Gilgamesh beyond their brotherly love? If the prophecy of all Gods seem to be true, why was this one the exception?

The Sumerian poem of Gilgamesh is an ancient Sumerian mythological piece of literature in which the heroic adventures of some individuals are narrated. One can easily identify the brotherly or even homosexual bond of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Take for instance the part when one recognizes the superiority of the other and in a ritual they "kiss and hold hands". Maybe at the time homosexuality and bisexual preferences where seen very common. Other record of Sumerian times refer to the free sexual practice of gods and goddesses as well of mythological creatures, it was seen as natural and beautiful to mate with the same sex. Today the free sexual practice is disputed but liberty of sexual preference is now a right. The sexual statement made by this epic may show more than just a simple narration, it may hint us to the costumes and practices of the influential Sumerian community.

A. What is the title of the blog?
The blog titles where the following; Weblog Wannabe and Asian Rambling.

B. What is the blog about?
Weblog Wannabe deals primarily with personal information of the blogger; it is a personal diary which is made public. It summarized certain aspects of the blogger’s personal life as well as the discussion of aspects that concern or intrigue the blogger.

Asian Rambling is also a very personal blog in which the blogger shares new occurrences in his life as well as his adventures, concerns, and input on traveling. At a certain point he mentions that it is a traveling blog, which is a type of stereotypical comments, from which one could derive the topic of other articles in such blog. E.g. He, Steve, shares that his wife is pregnant and that he is nervous and exiting about the upcoming birth.

C. Why is this title fitting?
Weblog Wannabe: I find the title fitting in the way that it expresses the playful essence of the blogger. Nevertheless it is not very fitting with the theme and entries of the blog but the energy of the title does match the blogger’s personality.

Asian Rambling: I don’t find the title very fitting but the entry blog titles are very coordinated with the text itself. Asian Ramblings doesn’t seem to fit accordingly with the entries because it is very general and racial. Personally I disliked the fact that it was so stereotypical and focused on a certain audience.


D. How does the blogger offer information in a way others don't?
Both blogs are very informal and are just ranting about personal issues. They might offer small details of information but blogs are just personal input on something, they are similar to stories; you read them because they seem interesting and may create change in your way of viewing certain situations.

E. Compare this blog with another of the same topic.
Both blogs are personal and offer diary type situations and comments. By the information in each blog you can assume that both bloggers are fans or are attracted by photography or design. Nevertheless Weblog Wannabe is more informal and offers a juvenile tone, while the Asian Rambling offers a “professional” aura, in which the blogger basically rants using fancy word. Personally I preferred the Weblog Wannabe, it was easier to understand; the position and situation of the blogger was stated clearly.

F. Evaluate this blog. Is it good or not? How can it be improved?
Weblog Wannabe: I loved the structure and interaction made by the author but even though its strength was its informality, sometimes it was too informal and not very appropriate.

Asian Rambling: The vocabulary used on every entry was very professional and made you know that you where dealing with a certified teacher. Nevertheless the lack of certain explanation made me lose track of what was being said, and the blogger assumed that you already knew all about him, which was actually very annoying.

(: Thank you

iBlogg is a space where you can feel free to interact with anything on this blog, the creation is strictly academical but whoever interacts with my blog could help make my education more productive.

A. According to this author where does the word blog come from?

The author states that the word "blog", which is highly used today, had its principles from "weblog or web log", such term started from a Web page called "Robot Wisdom" in which; artificial intelligence, James Joyce, and Judaism as racism were discussed. In 1999, Peter Merholtz separated the word into “We blog”, from which the word blog emerged.

B. Why might the writer object to a book about blogs? What is the difference between a blog and a book?

Acording to the author "Books are tight. Blogs are reckless. Books are slow. Blogs are fast. Books ask you to stay between their covers. Blogs invite you to stray. Books fret over copyright and libel. Blogs grab whatever they want with impunity—news, gossip, pictures, videos." From an unbiased point of view, one might assume that books and blogs are meant to be different. There is no specific preference from my behalf, but a blog is everything that a book is not. Their characteristics are different and vary in the most extensive ways, a book is not a blog and a blog is not a book, they are never meant to be combined. EVER.

C. How have blogs changes recently?

Blogs have evolved to include modern issues and more aggressive points of view. Blogs usually look to give a voice to someone that hopes to be heard, the search for this voice has been the primordial use of blogs since the early periods of creation, nevertheless the use of such voice has evolved and adapted into modern themes of controversy, new ideas and projects or just basic comments on daily life.

D. Why might you read a blog rather than a book, or a magazine, or a newspaper?

Blogs are usually concise, interactive with the reader, attractive, and suggest preference toward something the reader might want to have an opinion on. For example, one might want to have input on a book that cached your eye, blogs can give you the input you are searching for. As well as finding someone with similar ideas as yours that might contribute to your knowledge or point of view towards a situation or object.

D. Is there reason to doubt the objectivity of a blog? Why? Why not?

Blogs are definitely not objective, they comment and are meant to have an inclination towards one or more parties of a subject. They create conversation and without a certain preference toward a topic, the magic of blogs would be not exist. Blogs tend to have an amateur interpret a piece of information from a grater source or even a collision of such, an amateur is here to give input of some sort (such as I do). Therefore you can be certain that great amount of the information being received will be a basic interpretation and will not be developed by a specialized individual. Nevertheless blogs are entertaining and have personal stories that might help you in your life, and even though they are not very reliable, they are fun and give a spark to the internet.

E. If you kept your own blog, what would you title it?

To start I would pick something attractive, and off course, related to the subjects being discussed. I actually have some sort of an amateur blog on which I am asked to post this assignment, I named it iblogg. Basically because I felt it was an attractive name and it gave it a personal touch.

F. Find three blogs that mention our summer reading.

These blogs offer more like a discussion board on the subject:

1. http://www.iyou.me/group/green/forum/topics/ishmael-by-daniel-quinn-free

2. http://martiananthropologist.blogspot.com/2005/08/ishmael-ishmael-discussion-my-ishmael.html

3. http://peakoil.blogspot.com/2005/10/book-review-ishmael-by-daniel-quinn.html