I think, therefore I am ... huh???
Just the other day, I saw NTU's advertisement with the slogan "I am, therefore I think - Rene Descartes" splashed across the page in huge fonts. Below it is a picture of two youth - a lady and a man - leaning into a huge picture frame in the middle of the page - with half their bodies out of the frame. The part of their bodies that were in the frame were all dressed up in "working clothes". I think the female was dressed as a scientist and the man as a young executive (with tie and all). Outside the frame, their bodies were clothed in young trendy apparel - clothes that youth wear to 'hang out'. In a way then, their bodies were split into two, each wearing different clothes. Get the picture? (Alright!.... I scoured and found the image of the advertisement... makes it clearer for you fellas: see this)
The thing is... I am not sure how NTU had interpreted the quote from Rene Descartes but I have a nagging feeling that readers or students (as led by the advertisement) may read it as "I think I am a scientist... therefore I can be one". If that is the case, I'm afraid NTU have made the biggest boo-boo yet in academia advertising. Read this for an explanation of the theory behind the quote. (Maybe Descartes could blame it on Latin-English translation?? - cogito, ergo sum --> I am thinking therefore I exist)
posted by Kenneth Lee @ 8:05 am
3 comments
3 Comments:
I am reading the advertisement as "I am a (states occupation here), therefore I use my brains". Which means that when you enrol in NTU, you will have a goal to fulfill and work hard for it. I do admit that I am a bit blundered by the quote at first sight. I think the picture shows a transition from being an aimless person to a successful person. The idea of the picture frame is to actually tell us that our achievements will be well displayed. I'm not sure if "displayed" is the right word. I mean, it's like, you are creating history and in the future, people are going to know about you, your achievements and your contributions. Personally, I'm not attracted to join NTU by looking at the advertisement. Maybe I've already set my mind on enrolling in NUS hence, I may be biased. I don't really like the cliche form of idea that you are only successful if you are a scientist, executive or any other high-paying, society's ideal jobs. However, now that we are more open-minded, we want to follow our passion as much as possible. It is not the money that matters but it is the fun we have while working. On the other hand, you need money to survive in Singapore. Kind of looks like a win-win-lose-lose situation. That is why, people, we should continue to learn every single day regardless of whatever it is we are learning. Even the government is encouraging the people in the workforce to pick up some skills that is outside of their job description. Also, I find it hard to maintain my aims or goals because I always seem to lose sight of things. I have been going along with the flow of where things lead me too. Hell, I used to be unsure whether I want to go to JC or Polytechnic. So I just let my results decide for me.
eh huda. what are u trying to tell us? i cant seem to link ur comments to the topic
My linking is all over. I'm a messy person.
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