Professor, Thank you for another elucidating, piquant lecture. As a long time viewer, I appreciate you continuously nourishing me new ideas, puzzles, and thinking tools. I'll be back to my bookshelf with Kafka this weekend. Thank you!
After just (pun intended) reading The Penal Colony my first impression was its very intense, and probably deeper than I gathered upon reading. I think I understand that the first commandant, the officer and the machine are examples of an obviously unjust penal system. And Justice is served to the officer and the machine at the end. But it feels like there is a greater point to the story, perhaps as it pertains to justice and punishment in society, or even the human experience, that I can't quite grasp. I'll watch Dr. Sadlers other 2 videos next to see if I can get a clearer picture of what Franz was trying to get across.
@@DarkAngelEU Fierce is a good work for the vibe of story in general, very intense. I don't know what the significance is of the buried commander at the café, I feel like that's an important part of the message but not sure what the meaning is.
Maybe I'm wrong here, but it seems that this story has a similar dynamic to Foucault's Discipline and Punish, which is just not as oriented to examining notions of justice like this story, but more on discipline and conformity, or maybe Kafka was getting at justice in a different way. Or maybe not if I completely misread that specific assigned reading from class. I don't know, I kinda feel like there's something similar about ways institutions can go awry in pursuit of a moral ideal between the two texts. Great video, Dr. Sadler.
I forgot how rich this story was. Definitely going to have to give it a read again. Shot in the dark question, Greg, but have your ever watched Full Metal Alchemist?
I read this so long ago.... ever get the feeling that Kafka does not like Bureaucracy? Vast, impersonal and enforced rules where one has no agency or any knowledge of any final causes? (one big "library of Babel"...) Where knowledge is at best merely behavioral, ( if at all?). If the body politic is a structure built upon the activities of people, it is possible to have mere meat machines running ingrained habits worn into their flesh. Thus roles are performed for the good of society The machine would be both educator and punisher. What is not needed is more knowledge of "how". The worship of "how" to get things done lead to this. What is needed is the freedom to wonder "why?". IN that freedom a person claims their dignity and exercises there most human attribute.
My week has been rather draining, I feel like I’m stuck in a reductionist Darwinian mind set that I want to get out of it’s rather nihilistic but it’s just doesn’t stop.
Well if someone hasn't gone through that mindset then they probably haven't ever really lived to begin with. You start in bondage then liberate yourself but your liberation puts you in the wilderness where you are lost in all your new found freedom. The rest of your life is journey towards salvation. (Journey towards not actually achieving it) or as kafka would prefer you are attempting to reclaim what you have lost from your childhood and then you die.
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to educate myself more by watching these clear fathomable videos.
You're very welcome!
Professor,
Thank you for another elucidating, piquant lecture. As a long time viewer, I appreciate you continuously nourishing me new ideas, puzzles, and thinking tools. I'll be back to my bookshelf with Kafka this weekend. Thank you!
You're welcome!
After just (pun intended) reading The Penal Colony my first impression was its very intense, and probably deeper than I gathered upon reading. I think I understand that the first commandant, the officer and the machine are examples of an obviously unjust penal system. And Justice is served to the officer and the machine at the end. But it feels like there is a greater point to the story, perhaps as it pertains to justice and punishment in society, or even the human experience, that I can't quite grasp. I'll watch Dr. Sadlers other 2 videos next to see if I can get a clearer picture of what Franz was trying to get across.
It's kind of justice in the end, but also perhaps not
@@DarkAngelEU Fierce is a good work for the vibe of story in general, very intense. I don't know what the significance is of the buried commander at the café, I feel like that's an important part of the message but not sure what the meaning is.
@@DarkAngelEU In the story, it's pretty clear that the old commandant has very few followers.
@@DarkAngelEU There aren't any such "subtle hints". You're reading that in yourself
Maybe I'm wrong here, but it seems that this story has a similar dynamic to Foucault's Discipline and Punish, which is just not as oriented to examining notions of justice like this story, but more on discipline and conformity, or maybe Kafka was getting at justice in a different way. Or maybe not if I completely misread that specific assigned reading from class. I don't know, I kinda feel like there's something similar about ways institutions can go awry in pursuit of a moral ideal between the two texts. Great video, Dr. Sadler.
Well, Discipline and Punish is an entire book, doing history. This is a short story. There's a common theme, but not a common dynamic
I forgot how rich this story was. Definitely going to have to give it a read again. Shot in the dark question, Greg, but have your ever watched Full Metal Alchemist?
I have not
Very good, thanks for that…
You're welcome, and thanks
I read this so long ago.... ever get the feeling that Kafka does not like Bureaucracy? Vast, impersonal and enforced rules where one has no agency or any knowledge of any final causes? (one big "library of Babel"...) Where knowledge is at best merely behavioral, ( if at all?). If the body politic is a structure built upon the activities of people, it is possible to have mere meat machines running ingrained habits worn into their flesh. Thus roles are performed for the good of society The machine would be both educator and punisher. What is not needed is more knowledge of "how". The worship of "how" to get things done lead to this. What is needed is the freedom to wonder "why?". IN that freedom a person claims their dignity and exercises there most human attribute.
Well, you know, he spent a lot of time working in a job that brought him into contact with bureaucracies
My week has been rather draining, I feel like I’m stuck in a reductionist Darwinian mind set that I want to get out of it’s rather nihilistic but it’s just doesn’t stop.
Sorry to read about your week. Does that have anything to do with the Kafka story?
Well if someone hasn't gone through that mindset then they probably haven't ever really lived to begin with. You start in bondage then liberate yourself but your liberation puts you in the wilderness where you are lost in all your new found freedom. The rest of your life is journey towards salvation. (Journey towards not actually achieving it) or as kafka would prefer you are attempting to reclaim what you have lost from your childhood and then you die.