Found the actual story and expanding on my last blog.
THE VELVET RIBBON by Ann McGovern.
Once there was a man who fell in love with a beautiful girl. And before the next full moon rose in the sky, they were wed. To please her husband, the young wife wore a different gown each night. Sometimes she was dressed in yellow; other nights she wore red or blue or white. And she always wore a black velvet ribbon around her slender neck. Day and night she wore that ribbon, and it was not long before her husband's curiosity got the better of him. "Why do you always wear that ribbon?" he asked. She smiled a strange smile and said not a word. At last her husband got angry. And one night he shouted at his bride. "Take that ribbon off! I'm tired of looking at it." You will be sorry if I do," she replied, "so I won't." Every morning at breakfast, the husband ordered his wife to remove the black velvet ribbon from around her neck. Every night at dinner he told her the same thing. But every morning at breakfast and every night at dinner, all his wife would say was, "You'll be sorry if I do. So I won't." A week had passed. The husband no longer looked into his wife's eyes. He could only stare at that black velvet ribbon around her neck. One night as his wife lay sleeping, he tiptoed to her sewing basket. He took out a pair of scissors. Quickly and quietly, careful not to awaken her, he bent over his wife's bed and SNIP! went the scissors, and the velvet ribbon fell to the floor and SNAP! off came her head. It rolled over the floor in the moonlight, wailing tearfully: "I...told...you...you'd...be...s-o-r-r-y!"
__________________________________
I found the story in whole, or at least one version of it. Every version is slightly different in one way or another, as it is with most oral stories. I particularly like this one because it means a lot to me and it shows a good example of what being human means.
I like for one have always found the imagery of the black ribbon beautiful and interesting. It’s so simple, yet so mysterious. I can make connections from my own life to the story. For example, the main example, the girl has a secret that is better not known, but the husband “needs” to know it because he is curious. Very “Chasing Amy”. He has to know bad enough that in the end he ruins what they had together and kills her. As with “Chasing Amy” where the guy just ruins his relationship and loses the woman he loves, all because he has to know about her past.
This applies to me because, everyone has those things they don’t want known, or those skeletons in their closet that if they get out will ruin something. That’s why this story was so memorable to me. Not only does it warn us not to be over curious and just let some things drop, it also has a symbol for what will happen if the warnings of the story are forgotten, the black ribbon. Unlike the girl though if my ribbon is removed my head stays where it is and I don’t die. But what is released when the ribbon is removed can have some horrible effects on me, I know this from personal experience actually.
I actually even wear a black ribbon around my neck to remind myself that some things are better left unknown, and to honor this story which for some reason has stuck with me through life, even though I only think I heard the story once.
Also there is another personal meaning with the story. The guy in the story ended up hating the girl because of the ribbon and her secret. That’s not a good thing, but it does happen. Those are the types of people to avoid, and if in a relationship with get out of it, because if you don’t they will end up hurting you.
Human error; curiosity. Consequence; destruction as this story depicts.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
black ribbon
Do you know the story about the girl who always wears a black ribbon around her neck? Well in the story goes, in short, this boy falls in love with this girl and she falls in love with him. The girl always has a black ribbon tied around her neck, this bugs the boy and he always asks her why she has the ribbon tied around her neck. She always just smiles and refuses to tell him. Finally, after they are married the boy gets so curious that one night when the girl is sleeping, (there is another version where the girl gets sick and tells the boy to remove the ribbon), the boy goes into the room and removes the ribbon around his wife's neck. As he does she wakes up with a sad look on her face and says he shouldnt have done that, and her head falls off, killing her.
This story has stuck with me since I was little, and I'm not or wasn't sure why because I'd only heard the story once. But now I can put aspects of it into my life and make connections with the story.
For example, I have always loved the imagry of the black ribbon. Its just a pretty and simple image. Actually I wear a black ribbon around my neck because of the story. The black ribbon to me means, keeping secrets to protect myself. Unlike the girl, my head will not fall off if my ribbon is rememoved, nothing will happen actually. But the ribbon reminds me that I have to be careful with what I put out there or they could kill me just like the boy killed the girl he loved.
This story has stuck with me since I was little, and I'm not or wasn't sure why because I'd only heard the story once. But now I can put aspects of it into my life and make connections with the story.
For example, I have always loved the imagry of the black ribbon. Its just a pretty and simple image. Actually I wear a black ribbon around my neck because of the story. The black ribbon to me means, keeping secrets to protect myself. Unlike the girl, my head will not fall off if my ribbon is rememoved, nothing will happen actually. But the ribbon reminds me that I have to be careful with what I put out there or they could kill me just like the boy killed the girl he loved.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dumb medicine
We were supposed to write about a myth that we could relate to our lives, but I think this will make a better blog entry.
Last night around 1:40 I had to go to the ER because I was having extreme stomach pains. It felt like someone was pouring burning liquids all through my body cavity where my diaphram and stomach are. It was brutal. I actually woke up crying, and after puking my guts out, called my mother for help. I didn't know what else to do, and I hate calling anyone for any problem I'm having. I'm one of the people that would rather deal with things themselves and keep others out. After waking Raychelle my roommate up around 12:40ish to get one of the councilers I sat on the floor curled into a shaking and crying ball.
After waiting bout an hour total, the pain had dulled down alittle because of pain killers, but it was still there so I went to the ER. After all the awkward questions, and having to put on one of those dumb backless robes, I had to wait for the doctor...it was a rather long wait. But before the doctor came the nurse tried to have me pee into a cup for some damn test. I didn't have to pee and they refused to give me any water, so they never got their sample. Anyway finally the doctor came in. He listened, looked at my complaint thingy, and came to the conclusion that I had acid reflux. I've had that before, and this didn't feel like it. But then he on to say how acid reflux could be brought on severely because of stress and how it was mental as well as physical, and blah de blah de da. Then on my discharge papers it stated that he wouldn't stick to his diagnosis of it being acid reflux, which meant he didn't really know what it was...
Ugh i hate doctors, most of them dont really know what they are doing. Which is why I don't like going to them. I avoid doctors if I can help it. This doctor though had a really funny accent and it looked like he had had a lip implant inbedded in his face. It was amusing and hard not to make snippy comments.
After he came in, he gave me this medicine that numbed my throat real bad. Its really wierd when you can't really feel your throat and you have to swallow. Either way it was a long and not very fun night. I still feel kinda blah and my stomach is still all weird feeling today, but at least I'm not in severe pain.
My point to this is that, everyone is human. Even doctors. They dont even always know what is going on and can make mistakes as well, just like the rest of us.
Last night around 1:40 I had to go to the ER because I was having extreme stomach pains. It felt like someone was pouring burning liquids all through my body cavity where my diaphram and stomach are. It was brutal. I actually woke up crying, and after puking my guts out, called my mother for help. I didn't know what else to do, and I hate calling anyone for any problem I'm having. I'm one of the people that would rather deal with things themselves and keep others out. After waking Raychelle my roommate up around 12:40ish to get one of the councilers I sat on the floor curled into a shaking and crying ball.
After waiting bout an hour total, the pain had dulled down alittle because of pain killers, but it was still there so I went to the ER. After all the awkward questions, and having to put on one of those dumb backless robes, I had to wait for the doctor...it was a rather long wait. But before the doctor came the nurse tried to have me pee into a cup for some damn test. I didn't have to pee and they refused to give me any water, so they never got their sample. Anyway finally the doctor came in. He listened, looked at my complaint thingy, and came to the conclusion that I had acid reflux. I've had that before, and this didn't feel like it. But then he on to say how acid reflux could be brought on severely because of stress and how it was mental as well as physical, and blah de blah de da. Then on my discharge papers it stated that he wouldn't stick to his diagnosis of it being acid reflux, which meant he didn't really know what it was...
Ugh i hate doctors, most of them dont really know what they are doing. Which is why I don't like going to them. I avoid doctors if I can help it. This doctor though had a really funny accent and it looked like he had had a lip implant inbedded in his face. It was amusing and hard not to make snippy comments.
After he came in, he gave me this medicine that numbed my throat real bad. Its really wierd when you can't really feel your throat and you have to swallow. Either way it was a long and not very fun night. I still feel kinda blah and my stomach is still all weird feeling today, but at least I'm not in severe pain.
My point to this is that, everyone is human. Even doctors. They dont even always know what is going on and can make mistakes as well, just like the rest of us.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Conformity
"The human race is not yet free." -Ben Okri
Society is confomity! To conform all to the "standards" and "expectations" of society is the goal. It takes our childhood ignorance and thought process and molds us to do its bidding. Making puppets out of us all. To this conformity I shake my head and stand my ground. I will not become another drone for the government. I will not lose my ability to think or imagine. I will stomp my feet and scream if I have to. Leave me and my ideals alone. Society you will not conform me.
The error in humankind here is that they let this conformity happen without a fight. They are ignorant to it or just accept it. This is why I am an artist, I see this and refuse to let it happen to me.
Society is confomity! To conform all to the "standards" and "expectations" of society is the goal. It takes our childhood ignorance and thought process and molds us to do its bidding. Making puppets out of us all. To this conformity I shake my head and stand my ground. I will not become another drone for the government. I will not lose my ability to think or imagine. I will stomp my feet and scream if I have to. Leave me and my ideals alone. Society you will not conform me.
The error in humankind here is that they let this conformity happen without a fight. They are ignorant to it or just accept it. This is why I am an artist, I see this and refuse to let it happen to me.
Random rant type question thing
Why is it that everyones first anything is so important to them? Their first kiss, their first step, their first time riding a bike, their first time? Its just one of many, so why is so much emphasis put on them? I don't know but I wish someone would tell me.
Art is dead
Art- the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
The sad thing though is that art isn't really important to many people anymore. People are more interested in the junk thats on tv, like "The Hills" or "The Challenge", than they are by the classic paintings and what they tell us. Which Challenge members hooked up is more important than the meaning behind Salvador Dali's "Paranonia" (1935-1936). (Just a random example). Either way tv and other forms of mindless entertainment are ruining our world and the minds of the people in it. Oh well, the minds of our youth are ruined, unless something changes its just gonna get worse.
The sad thing though is that art isn't really important to many people anymore. People are more interested in the junk thats on tv, like "The Hills" or "The Challenge", than they are by the classic paintings and what they tell us. Which Challenge members hooked up is more important than the meaning behind Salvador Dali's "Paranonia" (1935-1936). (Just a random example). Either way tv and other forms of mindless entertainment are ruining our world and the minds of the people in it. Oh well, the minds of our youth are ruined, unless something changes its just gonna get worse.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Well fear
Fear-a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
Phobia-a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.
Both of these things are triggered by some situation or thing that for some reason or other our mind puts a red flag up for. Many fears are irrational and even stupid, but no matter how dumb the fear is the person who is afraid of whatever it is can't help but feel fear.
For whatever reason we as a people fear things. Some of these fears where put into our subconsious for servival. Some where not. Either way fears are still a weakness.
Take claustraphobia for example, it is a fear of enclosed spaces. I for example only have claustraphobia if I'm underground, especially if I'm in a cave or cavern. For me it might just be that I'm paranoid about a lot, and I'm paranoid that if I'm underground a rock will shift or something and I will get crushed or trapped.
For others though fears or phobias are so intense that it causes them not to be able to funtion if stuck in a situation that brings their fear or phobia to light. How does a fear get to a level where it can't be handled? How has it evolved in us a people that a fear can get to an intense level? I don't know and I bet its not easily explained.
But fears that are so intense that they become phobias can be seen as a weakness. They can limit what a person can do and experience, and if encountered by whatever they fear they can lock up or panic (neither option is good). So intense fear is a weakness and flaw that is built into us, or so it seems. Only time will tell though, it will also tell if there are ways to overcome phobias and eliminate them.
Phobia-a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.
Both of these things are triggered by some situation or thing that for some reason or other our mind puts a red flag up for. Many fears are irrational and even stupid, but no matter how dumb the fear is the person who is afraid of whatever it is can't help but feel fear.
For whatever reason we as a people fear things. Some of these fears where put into our subconsious for servival. Some where not. Either way fears are still a weakness.
Take claustraphobia for example, it is a fear of enclosed spaces. I for example only have claustraphobia if I'm underground, especially if I'm in a cave or cavern. For me it might just be that I'm paranoid about a lot, and I'm paranoid that if I'm underground a rock will shift or something and I will get crushed or trapped.
For others though fears or phobias are so intense that it causes them not to be able to funtion if stuck in a situation that brings their fear or phobia to light. How does a fear get to a level where it can't be handled? How has it evolved in us a people that a fear can get to an intense level? I don't know and I bet its not easily explained.
But fears that are so intense that they become phobias can be seen as a weakness. They can limit what a person can do and experience, and if encountered by whatever they fear they can lock up or panic (neither option is good). So intense fear is a weakness and flaw that is built into us, or so it seems. Only time will tell though, it will also tell if there are ways to overcome phobias and eliminate them.
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