Saturday, January 26, 2008
Apollonian vs. Dionysian
I believe that everyone, whether they know it or not, has two sides, two different ways of looking at and dealing with situations in life. As stated in the prompt, this idea is personified through the Greek gods, Apollo and Dionysus. I enjoyed working with this idea because it gave me the chance to closely examine myself and see which side I sway to more, the personality of an Apollonian or a Dionysian. Although I try to maintain some sense of order in my life so I may attain a sense of control over my actions, I am not the type to obsess over this order. The disorganized state of my room, my notebooks, and most of my personal belongings is evidence to this fact. So, with respect to Apollonian order and organization, my lifestyle does not parallel this aspect. Yet, in regards to studying and finishing work, I place myself under the category of Apollonian. I study excessively and always make sure that I get the work that I need to get done, done. Finishing my papers or any other task required of me is something I take great pride in. Other than this, most of the other characteristics mentioned in the prompt lead me to lean toward categorizing myself as leading a Dionysian way of life. I do not fear nature at all, almost the opposite. I thrive on the beauty of nature and the enjoyment I obtain from it, as I seem to spend the majority of my time in the outdoors. Additionally, I define myself as a free spirit and I tend to appreciate the enthusiastic atmosphere of parties and social interactions. I love meeting new people and I truly enjoy the accompaniment of different individuals, listening to where they came from and what they desire to do in their future. These relations are defined for me as the main source of my strongest emotions and positive feelings. Ultimately, my different character traits and values illustrate the fact that my personality is more closely paralleled to the Dionysian description. I don't put too much emphasis on order but more on enjoying the company of others and the positive aspects that life, especially nature, has to offer. Although I, like everyone else, have a combination of an Apollonian personality with a Dionysian one, the close examination of how I conduct my life illustrates to me that I tend to the ways and values of the latter.
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1 comment:
I am the same when it comes to getting work done, but just like you, I thrive off of social situations and meeting new people!!
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