Author Archives: Paige Harrisberger

Week 9: Environmental Humanities

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“Human beings are not independent of the natural world, but are part of it” (pp 10). We’ve been exploring this topic a lot in our readings and it is so interesting to me the different perspectives people have about it. I think it is important to recognize our interconnectedness to nature in order to have a good relationship with it. We ultimately rely on natural processes to support our lifestyles, but still choose to disrespect the world around us. The mindset that we are separate from nature has led to pollution, the exploitation of natural resources, and habitat destruction. These impacts effects not just the environment but also human lives, which seems ironic to say considering they’re both interconnected parts of the same system.

The concept of human mortality and our place in the natural world is viewed differently from groups, as some ideas don’t align with their beliefs. In the reading, it talks about how some conservative Christians don’t accept the theory of evolution, so their viewpoint is more from the idea that animals are a separate entity of the natural world than humans. According to this perspective, humans are not simply products of evolution but are intentionally created with a divine purpose. They possess rationality, morality, and free will, which are seen as reflections of God’s nature. This view emphasizes the special relationship between humans and God, which may suggest that humans have a higher status and purpose than other creatures. Although some viewpoints may be different between religious teachings and the environmental humanities, I like how the reading points out that they can and are still in support of environmental humanities. Using the Garden of Eden as an example is insightful, as it has traditionally been viewed as Adam and Eve having dominion over the land. In the reading, it suggests that we can instead view it as an ecological system that they were responsible for. This aligns with the idea that we have a responsibility to coexist with other species and ecosystems. By reframing the relationship between Adam, Eve, and the Garden of Eden in ecological terms, the perspective switches to a more conscientious approach where we are not separate from nature, but a part of it. I think if people were able to think about these traditional stories from their original interpretations, it could invite them to think about our role in caring for Earth and can help promote ecological health.

Week 8: The Environment and The Wilderness

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In the reading this week, I think the author touched on a lot of important topics that I don’t really tend to think about. There was a quote that really stuck out to me that reads, “The removal of Indians to create an “uninhabited wilderness”-uninhabited as never before in the human history of the place-reminds us just how invented, just how constructed, the American wilderness really is” (pp 15). The idea that the American wilderness was viewed as “unhabited” is inaccurate because Indigenous people had created and built their lives in these areas long before the Europeans even arrived. The assumption of an untouched wilderness erases the history and presence of the Indigenous people who lived there for centuries. The concept of wilderness itself is socially constructed. It has made us view of nature as something separate from human influence or habitation. Western viewpoints were focused on the fact that nature existed for their own use and benefit. On the contrary, many Indigenous cultures have a strong connection with nature, spiritually and physically. They tend to view nature and humans as interconnected and they have the want to protect and preserve the land for their future generations. They often have more sustainable practices and a balanced relationship with nature, which could not be said the same for the Western world.

I hadn’t really thought a lot about how our relationship with nature has been constructed by the ideals our country was built on. The idea that we “dominate” the natural world has been passed on for generations and is the building blocks of how we have treated the nature around us. In many religious contexts, there are connections described between humans and nature, where humans are depicted as having been given dominion over the Earth. This can be interpreted as exploiting nature for human benefit and prioritizing human activities over nature. It makes me rethink how I view nature and how much we rely on it in our day to day lives without even realizing it. I think our society as a whole needs to appreciate our surroundings more and not take what nature has given us and continues to give for us for granted.

The Little Mermaid

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Reading the original story of The Little Mermaid when I grew up with the 1989 Disney version, I can see some major contrasts between the plot and tone. In Andersen’s story, there is a more melancholic tone to the story and it shows themes of sacrifice and consequences of the desire for love. Similar to the Disney film, the little mermaid sacrifices herself to be with the prince, but she doesn’t end up with him and she dissolves into sea foam instead. She makes a choice of selflessness and sacrifice. Throughout this story, there’s less emphasis on the little mermaid’s actual personality and more just the fact that she is longing for an eternal soul. I wouldn’t consider the end of the story a tragic ending because she earns an immortal soul from making the right decisions and choosing not to be selfish.

The Disney version of the little mermaid is more fairytale like and lighthearted, but the two stories still definitely share some characteristics. Andersen’s tale focuses on themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the pursuit of a soul, while Disney’s version emphasizes themes of love, self-discovery, and personal agency. Disney’s obviously was written for a broad audience of families and children so their goal was to entertain and lift the spirits of their viewers. While the central plot remains similar, with the Little Mermaid sacrificing herself for the prince, the Disney version provides a more definitive and conventionally happy ending where love triumphs over adversity, and the protagonist is rewarded with her happily ever after. Disney’s story has a clear moral message and universal appeal, while Andersen’s can be perceived in varying perspectives. The differences in tone and thematic focus between Andersen’s original tale and Disney’s adaptation reflect the distinct intentions of the authors. Andersen’s was written with different intentions as it provided moral lessons and social commentary. I see his story as a cautionary tale about the consequences of sacrificing ones self for the sake of love or ambition. Andersen used his story to explore deeper philosophical and existential themes, rather than just for mere entertainment purposes. I think it is so interesting for me to learn about the original story versus the adaptation that I grew up with. I hope we see more of this in our future readings!

Week 6: Undine

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In this week’s reading: The Day After the Wedding, from Undine, I though the connection between the natural world and humans was a powerful theme. There is a passage on page 104, that reads, “There are beings in the elements which almost appear like mortals, and which rarely allow themselves to become visible to your race.” This suggests the presence of mystical and supernatural forces intertwined with the natural humans. It highlights the ever longing idea of a hidden realm that is populated by beings that are not within human perception, but are existing alongside our reality. Undine mentions that there are spirits that exist within the air and bodies of water, as well as in creatures such as salamanders and gnomes. The mention of these mythical beings expands the mythological world that mermaids and sirens exist. This also makes Huldbrand question his own perception of reality and he must question Undine’s existence. He is forced to reflect on the boundaries between these two worlds as well as his complex relationship with a non human.

I also found the quote, “His only daughter should become possessed of a soul, even though she must then endure many of the sufferings of those thus endowed.” I found this really intriguing because it first indicated that she now possesses the soul of a human which makes her different from her father and the rest in the supernatural realm. In a religious context, having a soul is often associated with consciousness, morality, and having the capacity for deeper emotions and experiences. Souls may experience joys and sorrows, pleasures and pains, love and loss, in ways that are uniquely human. So, in this case, Undine having a soul makes her more vulnerable to the struggles of human existence, including having the capacity to love someone. This duality in her nature contributes to her sense of otherness and her struggle to find her place in the world.

Week 5

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I particularly thought this week’s reading of the chapter: The Faery and the Fountain was the most intriguing. The chapter highlighted the theme of enchantment and entrancement of a woman’s beauty which has been a recurring topic in our readings. I love talking about this theme because there’s so many different angles to go about it. In this story, the enchantment serves as the catalyst for their “romantic” relationship where the Raymondin has the intoxicating effect comparable to love at first sight. This further dives into the complexities of desire, infatuation, and the irrationality of love.

These two characters in the story, Melusine and Raymondin, are essentially love bombing each other. They are telling each other they love one another, but Raymondin realizes that he doesn’t even know her name. Love bombing is used to overwhelm another person with emotion and affection to gain control or influence over them, which is what Melusine was doing. She asked him to marry her after a short period of even meeting each other. This is another common theme in our readings where one, usually a man, is manipulated or seducted by another who is usually a beautiful woman. Although, “love bombing” was obviously not a word used in those times, comparing it to its meaning today, it describes this situation very well. Sirens and mermaids used their ability to seduce these men with their beauty and angelic voices. I think the contrast between inner beauty and outer beauty is also a recurring theme we have read through. External beauty is what captures the men initially and they are blind to all else. This is why they are so easily manipulated by these sirens or mermaids because they take their beauty as trust and believe every word they say. Beauty is often associated with trust and even moral character, but these stories are trying to put these beautiful women in a bad light.

Week 2

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Before this reading, I didn’t know much about mermaids or where they originated from but it was so interesting to read and learn about. The perception of mermaids has changed over time through different cultures and places based on the stories and illustrations passed on. I thought it was interesting to read about how sexualized mermaids became, especially from a Christian perspective. It reflects a power dynamic between men and women that still very much exists today. Women’s bodies are often objectified and seen as controlled by men, which is shown frequently throughout the illustrations and pictures in the reading. I think that the sexualization of mermaids serves as a view into the deeper cultural beliefs and narratives about women and their role in society. In the text, there’s a quote that really stuck out to me, “Mermaids continued as mascots for the defamation of the feminine, representing religious traditions as well as folk-portents of storms, doom and death. Perhaps even more overtly, sixteenth-century Westerners often called prostitutes ‘mermaids’ or ‘sirens’.”

I also found it very interesting about how many people claimed to see merpeople in the medieval period. After claiming to see a mermaid or merman, these people seemed to gain some attention and/or fame. In the reading, it talks about how many of the people who said they interacted with merpeople were often a part of a higher class and were considered to be trustable people in society. I think this may be a main reason of why no one often questioned that they were lying or possibly fabricating something they saw in the water. There was a quote in the book that reads, “Perception, in short, is everything.” This quote expresses the the idea that people’s beliefs and interpretations can shape their understanding of the world around them, like their perceived sightings of merpeople in these times. I think it is very understandable as to why many believed they saw merpeople in the oceans because humans have a natural tendency to make sense of their surroundings with figments of our imagination.

Week 1: Introduction

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Hello everyone, my name is Paige Harrisberger and I am currently in my second year at San Diego State University, studying as a Business Administration major. I was born and raised in Orange County, which is only about an hour and a half north of San Diego. I’ve always lived near the beach and cannot handle the cold, which is one of the main reasons I chose to go to school here. In my free time, I love doing things with my friends like going shopping or trying out new places to eat or get coffee. I don’t have a lot of free space in my schedule though because I work around 20-30 hours a week, as well as being a full time student. When I signed up for this class, I didn’t know it was going to be about mermaids, but I love learning about new things and I’m excited to see what is to come in this class!!