Post Anime Boston 2015 - Blog #17

The logo for this year

So about two weeks ago, i went to an anime convention called Anime Boston with a few of my friends. It's a 3 day event at the Hynes convention down at, of course, Boston. This is my third year attending the convention as for my friends, it will be their first year attending. Anime Boston is pretty much an philosophical event because it is where people all around the world with the same interest gather to and have the best time of their lives. Kind of like the Olympics just minus the competition.

Many people there express their love for anime by cosplaying or in short, costume play. They would dress up as their favorite character and role play as the character. Sure it might sound a bit to weird but more than 75% of the people that attends conventions are cosplayers. Sadly, my costume came in late so i was unable to cosplay. But a few of my friends did and their costumes were pretty good. Hopefully next year, I'll cosplay. The convention was a blast! I took many pictures and i can't wait for next year!

things I got at Anime Boston

Group of friends i went with

The Matrix + Buddhism Blog #16

The Matrix

The Matrix is an incredible movie. Every scene secures the audience stay and engage them in an all-out adventure. Neo, the main character of the movie, is considered as "the one" who will rescue Morpheus and the A.I. But before anything happen, Neo had to make a choice. He meets Morpheus for the first time and were given the choice of choosing between swallowing a red pill or a blue pill. The red pill will throw Neo into a world he does not have the slightest knowledge about, heading to a whole lot of suffering. Or the blue pill, letting Neo keep control over his life. Basically returning to his previous life where Neo was a computer hacker. Obviously Neo takes the red pill, setting the whole movie into motion. But why did Neo take the red pill instead of the blue pill? This is where the four noble truth comes in.

The four noble truth of the Buddhism religion states that"All life is suffering" and that all suffering is caused by your desires. but knowing what the suffering is and letting go of all your desires, will then usher a new and eternal peace. Neo choosing the red pill made him realize what his suffering was. Neo now need to let go of his desires. his desire was to believe that he is the one to keep control of his life. Neo let go of this desire when he died during the battle with the agent. He got reborn as some sort of "god" and realized that he can not be the one who control his life but destiny does. Neo is shown at the end of the movie, walking toward his path of peace. 

Neo finally recieves his "peace" at the end of the movie. But would it not be easier if he had taken the blue pill instead is a different story. The Buddhist teaching states that everyone will have suffering in their life. So instead of Neo running away, he choose to fight it head-on and try to make it to the top. Fighting for his eternal peace. 

Which would you choose?

The red pill or the blue pill?

Groundhog Day + The Five Stages of Grief Blog #15

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day was a very interesting movie. The movie follows a weatherman name Phil going to a place call Punxsutawney for the annual Groundhog Day festival. Phil though hate the day because he despise the idea that a groundhog can actually tell you whether or not there will be an early spring or another 6 weeks of winter. After the day was over and they were trying to return back home. A snow storm came out of nowhere, forcing them to spend a night there. But then something awful happens. The following morning Phil wakes up, thinking that today he will be able to finally make it back home. But the radio station announces that that day is Groundhog day. Feeling confused he goes on with his day realizing that everything that was happening to him already happening. Where the time loop begins. Phil throughout the movie demonstrated the five stages of grief which is denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Stage #1- Denial
Waking up everyday and still denying that this can't be happening. Only later in the movie is where he realizes that Groundhog Day is repeating.

Stage #2 - Anger
He got fed up with the repeat of Groundhog's Day and stole the actual groundhog. Ending with both him and the groundhog of the cliff.

Stage #3 - Bargaining
When he gave money to the guy on the street. Phil started started helping other people. Thinking that ff he does a good amount of good deeds, the repeat will end.

Stage #4 - Depression
Phill started feeling depressed when he learned everything he ever wanted. Realizing that Groundhog Day would repeat itself,  he does not find anything enjoyable anymore.

Stage #5 - Acceptance
When he start learning the piano. Phil accepted the fact that this they will never end. Putting it in good use and start learning thing that he usually does not had time for before.

Phil releasing his anger

Tales of Symphonia Remake is almost here!! Blog #14

Cover Box

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles (PS3)

Developed by : Namco Bandai

Published by: Namco Bandai

Release date: February 25, 2014

Tales of Symphonia is the fifth mother title of the series "Tales of" series. The original which was for the Gamecube came out in North America on July 13, 2004. So it took 10 years for them to finally release a more complete remake of my favorite RPG. Tales of Symphonia is the first RPG I had finished. This game here is what made me start my RPG adventure. In my opinion, this game is perfect. Lloyd Irving is the main character who you control over the course of the game. The choice you make and the places you visit will affect the course of the game.Which here is pretty philosophical. It is like life, depending on the choices you make will affect the kind of future you are going to have. The creator of this game, Hideo Baba, stated that, " Tales of Symphonia was made for player to make their own Symphonia. Choices you make in the game will affect not just the event that occur but also the characters in the game..." I won't spoiler much here but there is a choice that determine either or not you can save or kill a character. The collector edition shown at the bottom is what i'll be getting. Which includes the game, a hardcover box, 4 figurines, the original soundtrack, and a artbook. It really sucks that the game is going to be release after vacation and not during vacation. Guess there's nothing that can be done about this. I recommend it to anyone who is really into RPGs. 

The opening of the game. link 

The collector's edition

Philosophical Painting Blog #13

Source

So my semester exam were to find a painting and to connect it to a philosophical idea that i had learned. To be honest here, it was really difficult to find a picture that would work. I then came across to this painting here, by Edwin McCormick, and connected it to the idea of Albert Camus’s Myth of Sisyphus. This painting here shows a guy doing some very heavy duty work. From the look of his eyes, he realizes that this is his life. He looks as if he accepts his job, his fate as a man who works at the job. There are times where life would go the wrong way, such as Sisyphus. But realizing that this is life and to accept it can only make life easier. I believe that we as human being should be able to accept reality. Even if we do not like it, if it is unchangeable, adapt to it or try to adjust it to your liking in a way so that life can be lived in comfort.

The Truman Show and Philosophy Blog #12

The Truman show was rather interesting. The movie started off a bit slow but later draws your attention. The cast of the movie was, in my opinion, perfectly made. What surprised me the most about Truman and Cristof was the symbols that is in their name. Truman or True man  is what society calls a "perfect man". Christof or Christ of is basically the god of the universe Truman lives in. he is the one who pulls the string in Truman's life. Christ is considered a God in the movie. Which made it interesting because we can watch and follow Christof's version of a perfect life. Truman was made to show that if everyone where to live like he did, there would be no worries and distortion in the world. The Truman Show is a perfect movie that shows this.

               Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

                                                                    (Paramount Pictures)