Just+a+Joke

= The Holy Race = == Joseph's pompousness has always lead him to trouble. In Genesis, Joseph boasts to his brothers about his dreams, which eventually leads to his enslavement. In this dialogue, Joseph haughtily dares to challenge God to a race and plans to win by using his cunning and deceptive nature. However, God's holy nature compels him to cease Joseph's corrupted mind and ultimately threatens to punish Joseph severely.

Despite Joseph's absolute rude attitude towards God, God mercifully forgives Joseph and provides Joseph another chance to live peacefully. This project is made up of a recording of the actual script, an analysis of God and Joseph through paintings and through the text of Genesis itself, an analysis of Joseph, the main character, through the script, and background information about the artists and their respective paintings. =By R. Hyon =

=**Audio Clip **= media type="file" key="RYANS DIALOGUE IMPORTANTEEEE.mp3" width="259" height="21" = = =**Dialogue **=  ** Joseph: ** God, I've been working out these days... I think I've gotten much faster. I mean, it could happen again, right? There's always a chance that someone will kidnap me, but I want to be prepared.

** God: ** //-sighs-// What are you thinking of doing now, Joseph? I have done so much for you already: making you second in command of Egypt, saving you from dying in jail, and getting Pharaoh to like you. You should be appreciative that I have been this grateful towards you... If you had been anyone else, I would have cared less about you. You are lucky that you are a son of Jacob.

** Joseph: ** So? Who cares? Even if my dad wasn't Jacob, I would still be the most powerful and successful person in the world. Jacob didn't do anything for me, and I got to where I am by myself. Even without your help, I could have still gotten to the position where I am today.

** God: ** Joseph, do not become too cocky. My mercy for you may run out. Have you seen what I did to Sodom and Gomorrah? I destroyed these cities as a result of the people’s lack of righteousness. If I were to stop protecting you, you would fall from your position of power and end up a useless beggar on the streets of Egypt. In fact, many of your people are corrupt and deserve to die. I plan to wipe out every single corrupt person in your country as I did to those Sodom and Gomorrah.

** Joseph: ** Whatever. I don't have you listen to you. Go ahead and kill my people. I'll just bring my country back up because I'm that good. I don't even need your stupid help. I can manage my own country with Pharaoh.

** God: ** Jos --

** Joseph: ** Don't interrupt me, God. How dare you interrupt me? Anyway, remember when my brothers sold me to those slave traders? What if I had broke off from them. What if I ran back home? Could I have made it or was I too slow? I’m so fast that I’ve beaten every single person in Egypt in a race. Yeah, that’s right, I’m // that // fast. I probably could have escaped if I was as fast as I am now. You can create all these scenarios in your head, I mean, c'mon. You're God. You can do anything.

** God: ** You are being ridiculous. Stop worrying about something like this and help your people. They are starving. There is a famine in your country, and they need your help. I have given you many years of wealth and time to hoard your food to prepare for this famine. You are lucky that I even stood by your side. What is your problem? Why do you think of these things?

** Joseph: ** Why are you so angry? Are you just jealous that I can beat you in a race? I bet I actually can. If you agree not to use any of your heavenly powers against me, I bet I can beat you in a race. Here, I’ll even let you create the terms for the race. Do whatever you’d like. Make your own rules. Too bad it won’t prevent your imminent loss.

** God: ** Very well. You are not allowed to take a shortcut through the land and you cannot use a horse or camel.

** Joseph: ** Okay, prepare to lose. If I win, you have to give me... Wait. Nevermind, I'm already better at everything than everyone. I don't need anything when I win... I already have everything.

** God: ** And if I win?

** Joseph: ** You won't. I'm too fast and I'm better than you.

** God: ** Okay, well if I win, I will do no harm to you despite your blithering rudeness.

** Joseph: ** Okay… Whatever. Well, wanna eat some breakfast first? I'm pretty sure you're hungr -- 3, 2, 1, let the race begin!

** God: ** What? That is not fair! Agh, whatever. I will give him another chance... I swear, if he does something like this again, I will destroy him.

** Joseph: ** I'm too smart for even God! He never said we had to agree on a specific starting time! If God wants to beat me, he's gonna have to fix up his act!

** God: ** Ugh, he thinks he is so good.

-During the race-

** Joseph: ** //-running steps-// Uh oh, God's catching up to me... What do I do?!? Hey look, there's a guy selling rental boats...

** Guy: ** Hello there! Welcome to the Dead Sea Rentals! Would you like to rent one of my fine boats? They are made of the strongest wood, and they are extremely durable and light!

** Joseph: ** Hi there, I'd like to rent one.. Whoa, look! That's a gigantic bird...

** Guy: ** What? I don't see anyth -- HEY! Come back here with my boat!

-//Splashing water, rowing through the sea-//

** Joseph: ** Hehehe, I'm even too clever for that guy... Nobody is too smart for me! Now I'll just get across the Dead Sea... God never said that there are no shortcuts in water allowed!

//-Thunder-//

//-suspenseful music begins-//

** God: ** Is Joseph taking a boat across the Dead Sea?!?! How dare he find a loophole in my rules! JOSEPH WILL PAY FOR THIS! (thunder sound). (godly voice) JOSEPH! GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND RESUME THE RACE PROPERLY OR I WILL DESTROY YOU!

** Joseph: ** Psh, God can't hurt me! I'm too strong, too fast, and too smart for even God himself!

** God: ** I will give you 5 seconds to listen to me.

** Joseph: ** Hah, you can't hurt me.

** God: ** -divine, angry voice- That is it, you crossed the line! I am going to remove your limbs so you can never run again! Wait… I cannot do that. That is against our covenant… You know what? I will just leave you. You can destroy your own life by yourself. You do not need my help, right? Exactly.

//-thunder-//

** Joseph: ** You don't have the power to do it! You can't do anything to me.. I might even be stronger than you!

//-2 second pause- -dramatic, suspenseful music begins-//

** Joseph: ** Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, God. Calm down. Come on! It was just a joke! You know I would never mean that! I never ever meant that sincerely! We're still under that covenant agreement, right? You can’t do that! It’s against our agreement! C'mon God, you promised you would abide by it!

** God: ** See? You cannot succeed without me. I will forgive you once again. However, if I sense one hint of corruption within you, you will suffer severe consequences. 

**Analysis of Joseph (Image and Text) **  When Joseph first encounters his brothers after years of separation, Joseph cunningly masks his true identity and exclaims, “’You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land!’” (Gen. 42.9). Although Joseph immediately recognizes his siblings, he cleverly improvises a plan even though he lacks the luxury of time to emotionally and mentally prepare for this significant reunion.

Not only is Joseph able to disguise his true emotions, but he is also able to cunningly hide his true intentions through his dual-purpose plan. Although Joseph proves that his brothers need to prove that they are not spies, he uses this plan in order to test whether his brothers have experienced genuine regret due to their past betrayal.

Rather than weeping an publicly displaying his true feelings, Joseph displays his ability to restrain his emotions in order to preserve his actual intentions. Throughout these events, Joseph skillfully deceives his brothers and is also able to craft a plan in which their actions can reflect their true change of heart. 

The painting, //The Dreams of Joseph, // by Raphael, depicts Joseph's smirking countenance after he has boasted about his dreams to his brothers. Raphael paints Joseph as a relatively small man compared to his much bigger brothers, which magnifies the severity of the insult by implying that older and more powerful men will be forced to submit to a much weaker, younger youth.

The key detail of this painting, the placement of Joseph’s hands, conveys that he truly believes that his brothers are destined to bow down to him. One hand, placed over his chest, expresses his pretentious attitude while the other hand points insultingly at a group of his brothers. 

**Analysis of God (Image and Text) ** After inspecting his creation and finally determining that his world is corrupt, God explains to Noah, "'the earth is filled with violence... now I am going to destroy [the corrupt mankind] along with the earth'" (Gen. 6.13).

Although God has just created mankind and a growing community, God's holiness compels him to cleanse the world of corrupt people. Thus, God's holiness leads to his ruthless, yet righteous punishments.

Not only does God sense the corruption among his people, but God is so holy to the point that he strives to take drastic measures in order to ensure a more moral community. This establishes God's holiness because it emphasizes his utter opposition towards corruption.

The painting, //The Noah's Ark,// by Ilian Rochav, depicts God's gentle closed eyes with merciful, guiding hands that convey God's gracious nature. God's closed eyes signify his mercy because closed eyes are often associated with clemency, thus illustrating God's submission into forgiving mankind's sin.

The key detail of this painting, the position of God's guiding hands, portrays that God mercifully instructs Noah, and God's right pointing finger guides Noah to safety as an act of forgiveness to mankind. If God had not forgiven mankind, he would not have let any man, not even Noah, live to begin a new life. God's

=Analysis of Joseph (Script) = <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> While talking with God, God interrupts Joseph and Joseph immediately retorts,” Don’t interrupt me, God. How dare you interrupt me?” (Hyon 2). Hyon uses Joseph’s words to convey a disrespectful tone, which portrays Joseph’s pompous nature and demonstrates that Joseph thinks he is superior to God. Although God has demonstrated his ability to wipe out the entire human race, Joseph haughtily commands God to obey him.

Although God prohibits shortcuts through land, Joseph slyly finds a loophole in God’s terms and rents a boat in order to travel through the water towards his destination, justifying his actions by saying, “God never said that there are no shortcuts in water allowed” (Hyon 2).

Joseph demonstrates his cunning nature by exploiting the loophole in God’s rules and creates an advantage for himself even after prohibiting God from using his divine powers. Hyon further demonstrates Joseph’s cunning through Joseph’s pretense of abiding by God’s regulations when in reality Joseph deliberately acts unfairly.

= Artist Information =

Ilian Rachov, a Bulgarian artist who began painting in 1988, developed a perfect style of engravings and a unique color technique, which made him famous outside of Bulgaria's borders. Rachov specializes in the usage of forgotten techniques in order to recreate copies of medieval orthodox icons and frescos. Great masters of the Renaissance inspire Rachov to paint his countless amount of pieces. Currently living and working at his studio in Italy, Rachov has won several prizes of the arts and continues to paint today.

Raphael, a famous artist in Italy's High Renaissance, is most notable for his world-renown //The School of Athens// and for his architectural work under Pope Julius II.Born a fantastic artist, Raphael quickly rose up the ranks of art and became a master at the early age of 17. Raphael painted most of his important and notable paintings in Florence. Inspired by Leonardo DaVinci, people knew Raphael to paint gentle faces with hidden and profound meanings behind the literal painting. Many consider Raphael's death on his 37th birthday one of the saddest days during the Renaissance.

= Reflection =

Although I thought my analysis of the characters has improved from my past analysis in other assignments, attempting to create an effective conclusion and climax proved to be the most difficult aspect of this project.

In order to overcome this detour, I figured out a way to walk around the problem rather than bulldoze through it. Rather than spending hours thinking about a resolution that does not contradict the bible, I twisted the plot around so that instead of punishing Joseph, thus breaking their covenant, God mercifully forgives Joseph, which is a plausible scenario in the bible.

I always ended up contradicting the bible by using implausible conclusions to the dialogue. One of the most annoying obstacles that proves to be impossible to avoid is WikiSpaces. I spent at least an hour attempting to change the font, text, and color of my page, yet WikiSpaces did not seem to comply.

However, this project taught me how to restrain my frustration and calm down in order to complete my tasks and solve the problems. Rather than smashing my keyboard in frustration, I learned to ignore the road bumps and set them aside in order to manage my time wisely and develop powerful analysis paragraphs.

I learned that I am easily frustrated and my rather meticulous nature compels me to attempt to clean up every single mistake possible, such as differing text sizes and how much text there is to the left of an image. I tend to stick to any particular problem that I fail to solve, thus wasting time proved to be a large contributing factor to how much time I wasted. Furthermore, I learned that Webspiration is a versatile and wonderful brianstorming tool as visual images usually help me as opposed to large paragraphs of text. My Webspiration chart, shown below, helped me analyze images from the Internet and text from the bible through the usage of colored bubbles and connecting arrows.



= Works Cited =

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"Berkshire Medical Center Annual Independence Day Run."// Pittsfield Parade//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://www.pittsfieldparade.com/accounts/22/images/20071014125619.jpg>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 72.9%;"> //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Biblical-Art //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.wcg.org/images/b1/b1h%20%2856%29.jpg>.

"Cheating."// XSMaza//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://xsmaza.com/funny/documents/cheating-thumb.png>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 85.293%;"> "frustrated computer user."// istockphoto//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-706582-frustrated-computer-user.php>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 94.77%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Ilian Rachov. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.ilianrachov.com/paintings/index.htm>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 9.9px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">Ilian Rachov. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.ilianrachov.com/txt/gb.htm>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 85.293%;"> Kren, Emil, and Daniel Marx. "RAFFAELO Sanzio." Web Gallery of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 65.61%;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">Michaels, Mike. "STUDY FINDS ATHEISTS MOST HATED MINORITY; ATHEISTS DON’T BELIEVE IT." ScrapeTV. N.p., 25 Sept. 2009. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/usa/images-3/god.jpg>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 78.732%;">Rachov, Ilian. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">ilianrachov //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.ilianrachov.com/ikons/images>.

"Raphael's Paintings." El Reloj de Sol. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.elrelojdesol.com/raphael/gallery/index.htm>.

Socrates, Slienos. "The School of Athens." AncientWorlds. N.p., 1 May 2005. Web.18 May 2010. <http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/555679>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 108%;"> //The New Oxford Annotated Bible//. 1962. Ed. Michael D. Coogan, et al. Augmented 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2007. Print. New Revised Standard Vers.