R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away earlier this week, which was shocking news; just as shocking as the news of Paul Walker's death a little earlier. I had been a huge fan of Mr. Hoffman for years and it is sad that he will never grace the silver screen again. Knowing that he was such a stage actor makes me wish that I had actually seen him perform, because it would be great to see how actors transition and change their styles according to different mediums. 

I think this quotation from Philip Seymour Hoffman is very interesting, especially when it can be interpreted in so many ways. I think as college students, we often get caught up in our own little world, especially when we are stressed and trying to juggle different aspects of our life with our school work. However, I believe this idea kind of puts everything into perspective. Sometimes we make too much of matters and it is not until a few years later, when we have matured and passed that phase, that we realize how silly we were being. That doesn't mean that our problems are not significant, but often times we are so focused on ourselves that we forget to look at the situation objectively, which is often necessary. If you are having a difficult time, it is often helpful to step out of yourself for a little bit and try to understand what are the reasons you are in this situation and what can be done to find a solution. It can be very helpful to just take a moment to breathe and just thing about situations in the larger scheme of things. Many times I have heard people, including myself say, "Really? That's what I was worried about?" or "Wow, I can't believe I acted like that." Being objective can really put things into perspective.

Relating this quotation to the class, I think objectivity is crucial to literature. Many times we approach a work of art with our own prejudices and biases, however, being objective can really widen our horizons. I know there are times when I am reluctant to read something but I will have friends who insist I read it or watch something I don't want to, and I wind up loving it. Therefore, I think objectivity really ties in with having an open mind. If you look at all works of literature objectively, you will have a good understanding of it and then can bring in your own experiences to give a deeper and much richer meaning for yourself.

I think many of us have the difficulty of not being to laugh at ourselves, which is sometimes necessary to enjoying life.