Personalities Who Have, by Their Actions, Become

¶ … personalities who have, by their actions, become notable individuals this writer must first explain why a different direction has been opted for in this assignment. In doing so the written response will be somewhat lengthier than the initial assignment requested. With the advent of mega technology and virtual reality bombarding the computerized twenty first century, information is at the fingertips of anyone owning a computer and having Internet access. The Internet user can instantly find answers to questions that before would take hours and hours of diligent investigation and research.

Today, simply sitting in front of a computer screen, entering a few search words though Google, massive amounts of information are immediately available. Whether the user is inquiring about Federal Reserve policies, reviews on literature classics, or new car prices someone else has likely all ready made a presentation that can be viewed. Unfortunately extensive computerized information retrieval has, however, minimized the creativity and personalized interest in thinking for oneself.

Further, the minimization of using one's own interpretive powers has been greatly affected by the massive amount of all ready existing information available to people who are required to make comparative studies about existing people and/or phenomenon. Computers are simply making many people antiquated in the area of resourceful thinking. The task is easy for those who use computers to complete reports or assignments, leaving behind the necessity to "touch and feel" that which can open one's eyes to creative thinking.

The lack of independent thinking is never more applicable than it is when making comparisons between two individuals that are similar in mission or bi-polar in design. The easier charge is simply to sign on to the Internet review a few biographical sources and put together a paper on the interpretive results. Yet, by doing so the question lingers: What has one actually learned or, better yet, experienced. The simple answer is nothing.

When comparing individuals on the basis of their political, religious, or sociological dais, visa via the electronic Internet, little has garnered or accomplished. Comparative data gained through the Internet on those worthy of recognition leave little support for their meaning to be long lasting or permit their image to become folklore or mythological.

In an attempt to fully appreciate the requirements of the present assignment the writer has chosen to take a situation wherein a people comparison is made, resulting in an explanation of the inexplicable and an appreciation for that which is a reflection on life.

Notwithstanding the fact that the assignment would have been readily accomplished by comparing well-known individuals such as Martin Luther King and Gandhi, or Hitler and Idi Amin Dada, or even Michael Jordan and Lebron James, a more insightful task is to extract meaningful and memorable information about people by way of metaphoric situational comparisons, namely comic book characters. The chosen comic book character to be reflected upon here is that of "Garfield" the cat.

What the two characters represent in the comic strip is the alter ego of man, his inner thoughts, motivations, masked feelings, and uncounted everyday life dilemmas. As an art form the comic strip sublimates the mysteries of everyday man into metaphoric form giving rise to the needs of common man. The dialogue between Jon and Garfield is a reflection on life, exemplary of the storm of human experience, and a cultural expression.

Comic book writers, in creating their own histories, characters, and legends, present their material on the basis of current contemporary thought. As such that which the writer expresses in comic book form is the alter ego of those who read the material. The comic book character often becomes our "shadow self." Comparisons made between comic book characters and the self permits us to become a part of the mindset of the character, good or bad.

Further, the transference of self permits us to associate with similar personalities as well as learn about our own personality. Without even giving much thought to the possibility of resembling a Jon or Garfield, the reader has, through situational identification, compared the self with reference to three important human behavioral dimensions; namely, how we perceive the self, how we would like others to perceive us, and how we think others.