In class today, we read and discussed the story Me Talk Pretty One Day. The author decided to enter college once again and was taking a class abroad in France. He was then stuck with a teacher who totally destroyed their hopes and dreams at becoming fluent in French. She was sassy and snarky and an all around awful person towards her students. Even though they could not tell what she was saying precisely, the tone in her voice and her body language clearly conveyed that they were being insulted and had no clue how bad the insults actually were.
Instead of discouraging the author and his fellow classmates, this led them all to two emotions: desparation and fear. By constantly harrassing them and blatantly harrassing them, the teacher united the students in the desparation to understand what was going wrong. Desparation is funny that way. When students are faced with a teacher that does not teach/does not treat them with respect, they seem to unite and work together to prove that teacher wrong. Fear also plays a role into this. The students soon began to stop speaking, for fear of being ridiculed for being incorrect. Now, no one wants to be wrong, especially in front of a teacher they loathe. It would only make sense that this would become a source of passion and determination to prove that teacher wrong.
I have had many awful teachers and adults in my life that have been awful. They fail to teach and expect us to teach ourselves, they are rude and passive aggressive, they lower their standards for us, the list could go on. I have always seen this as a challenge to prove those teachers wrong. The same goes for my fellow classmates. Our desparation to succeed and fear of being wrong breaks down the barriers of competition and helps us work together towards the common goal of passing the class. While it is an unconventional and even frowned upon practice, causing fear and desparation can actually work with the right students.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
High School Society
The school system is unbelievably flawed, to be frank. In Leon Botstien's Let Teenagers Try Adulthood, Botstein also argues that the school system is flawed and the system should be completely changed in order to work in the modern world. The author believes that school is nothing but a sheltered world with its social hierarchies dominated by beefy football players. Botstein then goes on to illustrate his perfect school system, where children would attend elementary school, skip middle school, and graduate high school at 16.
Now, if I could have skipped middle school and that awkward mess altogether, I totally would have. Do I think that this kind of system could improve our current school dilemma? Not really. One line in this piece that really irked me was this: "Young people shoudl graduate at 16 rather than 18. They could then enter the real world, the world of work or national service, in which they would take a place of responsibility alongside other adults in mixed company". I was not aware that I was not a part of the real world. I do understand where this author is coming from. The school systems now shelter a lot of teenagers from what is considered "the real world". I have not been taught how to do a check book. I cannot do my own laundry. I have not been taught the basic necessities that I need to be considered an "adult figure". But that does not mean that I have not been struggling with the stress that comes with school, nor have I been without responsibility. Children have been forced to mature faster, that much is true. But it does not mean that we are not a part of the conversation when it comes to "the real world" because we live it every day.
As for this new schooling system, it has its perks and flaws. I think that being able to work within a field of one's interest with professionals in that field can be very beneficial. I also think that students could handle a shorter school curriculum. I do not agree with building new institutes for every single major. Soon we would be overrun with unnecessary institutions and it would become messy and disorganized. I also think that forcing children to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives at such a young age is a cruel and unusual punishment placed upon every new generation. It is hard enough deciding what to do when one is 18; bumping that tremendous decision down to 16 year olds is just cruel. Many students go into college without a clue of what they want to do for the rest of their lives and some regret their decision right after graduating. We need to stop rushing our children to make life long decisions when they have barely expreienced life.
Now, if I could have skipped middle school and that awkward mess altogether, I totally would have. Do I think that this kind of system could improve our current school dilemma? Not really. One line in this piece that really irked me was this: "Young people shoudl graduate at 16 rather than 18. They could then enter the real world, the world of work or national service, in which they would take a place of responsibility alongside other adults in mixed company". I was not aware that I was not a part of the real world. I do understand where this author is coming from. The school systems now shelter a lot of teenagers from what is considered "the real world". I have not been taught how to do a check book. I cannot do my own laundry. I have not been taught the basic necessities that I need to be considered an "adult figure". But that does not mean that I have not been struggling with the stress that comes with school, nor have I been without responsibility. Children have been forced to mature faster, that much is true. But it does not mean that we are not a part of the conversation when it comes to "the real world" because we live it every day.
As for this new schooling system, it has its perks and flaws. I think that being able to work within a field of one's interest with professionals in that field can be very beneficial. I also think that students could handle a shorter school curriculum. I do not agree with building new institutes for every single major. Soon we would be overrun with unnecessary institutions and it would become messy and disorganized. I also think that forcing children to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives at such a young age is a cruel and unusual punishment placed upon every new generation. It is hard enough deciding what to do when one is 18; bumping that tremendous decision down to 16 year olds is just cruel. Many students go into college without a clue of what they want to do for the rest of their lives and some regret their decision right after graduating. We need to stop rushing our children to make life long decisions when they have barely expreienced life.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Slang in America Questions p.724
Slang in America Questions p. 724 #1-12
1) According to Whitman, slang is particularly American because the United States inherited their language from the Old World's Greek and Latin, and they have taken it and made it their own through the use of slang. Americans reshaped language by taking words that meant one thing and connotating it to mean another and for that connotation to stick throughout the new generations of Americans. I think this is still the case in 21st century America because we as a culture are still adding many more connotations to the English language and are reshaping it with each incoming generation.
2) This paragraph lays the foundation for the following ideas because it focuses on how the English language is a collection of all the things that make up a culture, from the race to the dialect. The English language tells of the passing of time and is reborn with every new term created. This opens up the discussion for looking at language as more than just a way of communication and as a living thing that beats at the heart of America.
3) Slang is considered "lawless" because it does not follow the proper rules of the English language that is taught from grammar books and English teachers. Language is spoken by those that wish to break free from those restrictions and create their own inside meanings to the world around them. Slang is also "rank" because it can mean something unpleasant within the young generation. For example, the word "side hoe" is used to describe the woman that a man uses to cheat on his girlfriend or wife. This has made things more difficult for those in relationships because this "rank" word promotes distrust among our significant others.
4) Whitman uses the metaphors "Language...like one of Shakespeare's clowns," and "Slang, too, is the wholesome fermentation or eructation of those processes eternally active in languae, by which froths and specks are thrown up, mostly to pass away; though occasionally to settle and permanently chrystallize". These metaphors are fitting ways to explain slang because slang is used by each generation to make their own inside jokes and special banter within their version of English. The second metaphor is more effective because it explains how some slang words die off in popularity or they continue to grow and are still commonly used today.
5) In paragraph 3, Whitman makes his perspective "plainer" by how older and more well known slang words became the solid definition for common words used today. For example, he uses the word "right" to mean "literally only straight", while "wrong" is "twisted, distorted".
6) Language and mythology share the relationship of arising from the creativity of the people around them and not from the dictionaries and grammar books of the time. Mythology, like slang, is spontaneous and organic.
7) The examples that Whitman uses thoughout paragraphs 6-10 illustrate the point that language is constantly reshaped to fit the times and it it used to describe what kind of events are happening. Language is also used in an endearing way, with nicknames replacing formalities. Whitman emphasizes on how language can make a community more connected and friendlier instead of harsh and formal.
8) Whitman implies the opinion that the "American humorists" are bland with their inuse of slang. I think that this strengthens his arguement because when slang is involved in a conversation, the listener becomes more interested and excited because they immediately made a connection through the understanding of that certain word. They can also be more creative and brash with their words, and those organic stories are more compelling than the boring ramblings of an intellectual at times.
9) The tone of the essay is filled with appretiaiton and fascination at the power of language. The final paragraph contributes to this belief because Whitman uses the metaphors of how language can be seen as a never ending body, living on and on as each generation comes and goes. Throughout this essay Whitman has expressed his joy and appretiation of language through his personal connections and lively metaphors.
10) This essay reflects Whitman's appretiation for organic and simple things in life instead of the learned word. This relates to his poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", where Whitman was being taught by a professor about the stars with numbers and division and graphs. Whitman simply went out and looked at the stars and it taught him exactly what he needed to know. This relates to his style of finding the lessons of life in the simplest things, whether it be nature or slang.
11) "An attempt of common humanity to escape from bald literalism, and express itself illimitable, which in highest walks produces poets and poems..." applies to how I need to look into the lines when I am doing a character study for drama. A character is not a two dimensional thing with words already written out for them; each character is an experience and to be able to portray their wishes and tell their story, I need to look in between the lines.
12) I support this arguement because in my generation, we use the slang word "bae" to describe someone that we have a crush on and it means "before anyone else". Many people despise this word and use it ironically, but some in this generation love it and learning about it and using it in everyday life is important to my generation because it is ours.
1) According to Whitman, slang is particularly American because the United States inherited their language from the Old World's Greek and Latin, and they have taken it and made it their own through the use of slang. Americans reshaped language by taking words that meant one thing and connotating it to mean another and for that connotation to stick throughout the new generations of Americans. I think this is still the case in 21st century America because we as a culture are still adding many more connotations to the English language and are reshaping it with each incoming generation.
2) This paragraph lays the foundation for the following ideas because it focuses on how the English language is a collection of all the things that make up a culture, from the race to the dialect. The English language tells of the passing of time and is reborn with every new term created. This opens up the discussion for looking at language as more than just a way of communication and as a living thing that beats at the heart of America.
3) Slang is considered "lawless" because it does not follow the proper rules of the English language that is taught from grammar books and English teachers. Language is spoken by those that wish to break free from those restrictions and create their own inside meanings to the world around them. Slang is also "rank" because it can mean something unpleasant within the young generation. For example, the word "side hoe" is used to describe the woman that a man uses to cheat on his girlfriend or wife. This has made things more difficult for those in relationships because this "rank" word promotes distrust among our significant others.
4) Whitman uses the metaphors "Language...like one of Shakespeare's clowns," and "Slang, too, is the wholesome fermentation or eructation of those processes eternally active in languae, by which froths and specks are thrown up, mostly to pass away; though occasionally to settle and permanently chrystallize". These metaphors are fitting ways to explain slang because slang is used by each generation to make their own inside jokes and special banter within their version of English. The second metaphor is more effective because it explains how some slang words die off in popularity or they continue to grow and are still commonly used today.
5) In paragraph 3, Whitman makes his perspective "plainer" by how older and more well known slang words became the solid definition for common words used today. For example, he uses the word "right" to mean "literally only straight", while "wrong" is "twisted, distorted".
6) Language and mythology share the relationship of arising from the creativity of the people around them and not from the dictionaries and grammar books of the time. Mythology, like slang, is spontaneous and organic.
7) The examples that Whitman uses thoughout paragraphs 6-10 illustrate the point that language is constantly reshaped to fit the times and it it used to describe what kind of events are happening. Language is also used in an endearing way, with nicknames replacing formalities. Whitman emphasizes on how language can make a community more connected and friendlier instead of harsh and formal.
8) Whitman implies the opinion that the "American humorists" are bland with their inuse of slang. I think that this strengthens his arguement because when slang is involved in a conversation, the listener becomes more interested and excited because they immediately made a connection through the understanding of that certain word. They can also be more creative and brash with their words, and those organic stories are more compelling than the boring ramblings of an intellectual at times.
9) The tone of the essay is filled with appretiaiton and fascination at the power of language. The final paragraph contributes to this belief because Whitman uses the metaphors of how language can be seen as a never ending body, living on and on as each generation comes and goes. Throughout this essay Whitman has expressed his joy and appretiation of language through his personal connections and lively metaphors.
10) This essay reflects Whitman's appretiation for organic and simple things in life instead of the learned word. This relates to his poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", where Whitman was being taught by a professor about the stars with numbers and division and graphs. Whitman simply went out and looked at the stars and it taught him exactly what he needed to know. This relates to his style of finding the lessons of life in the simplest things, whether it be nature or slang.
11) "An attempt of common humanity to escape from bald literalism, and express itself illimitable, which in highest walks produces poets and poems..." applies to how I need to look into the lines when I am doing a character study for drama. A character is not a two dimensional thing with words already written out for them; each character is an experience and to be able to portray their wishes and tell their story, I need to look in between the lines.
12) I support this arguement because in my generation, we use the slang word "bae" to describe someone that we have a crush on and it means "before anyone else". Many people despise this word and use it ironically, but some in this generation love it and learning about it and using it in everyday life is important to my generation because it is ours.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Mother Tongue
In Amy Tan's Mother Tongue, Tan touches upon the different kind of 'Englishes' that she learned to use throughout her life. She was made aware of these different versions of the same language when she was giving a speech to a large group of people. Tan used perfect English and realized that her mother in the audience always heard a more choppy and unnatural version of that same language when it was just the two of them alone. Tan then used examples of the English that her mother was known to speak and used this to show how even though it is the same language, there can be many variations and broken down pieces of the same words we use everyday.
Tan copies a very long quotation from her mother, which was a story about her wedding day and a gangster that showed up to show his congratulations.
"Du Yusong having business like fruit stand. Like off the street kind. He is Du like Du Zong- but not Tsung-ming Island people. The local people call putong, the river east side, he belong to that side local people. That man want to ask Du Zong father take him in like become own family. Du Zong father wasn't look down on him, but didn't take seriously, until that man big like become a mafia. Now important person, ver hard to inviting him. Chinese way, came only to show respect, don't stay for dinner. Respect for making big celebration, he shows up. Mean gives a lot of respect. Chinese custom. Chinese social life that way. If too important won't have to stay too long. He come to my wedding. I didn't see, I heard it. I gone to boy's side, they have YMCA dinner. Chinese age I was nineteen."
This quotation was used in its entirety because Tan purposely wanted to show the garbled and unique version of English that her mother speaks. If Tan had chosen to paraphrase, the point of how different her English is would have been lost. It would be like if Tan had grammatically fixed up this paragraph to not make it seem as bad. Even though her thoughts on the matter are shown through the emotion of the story, people would be less willing to be respectful towards her because of the choppy English.
Tan also struggled with having to be the speaker of the family on behalf of her mother. She would have to go on the phone pretending to be her mother to get money back or to get important medical information. Tan realized that Americans would not treat her mother with the level of respect or urgency of a native English speaker, so Tan had to be the one to earn the respect for the both of them with her correct language. This forced Tan to be fearful of being treated the same way as her mother, so when she decided to go into the writing world despite having no support from her teachers, she worked tirelessly to become witty and write profoundly in a foreign language. Instead of creating these profoundly beautiful sentences, she butchered the language by making it seem unnatural and confusing to even native speakers.
Language is an integral part of every culture. Each society demands that one must learn their home country's language or be treated like a second class citizen. There is such a fine line that needs to be walked for bilingual persons because they must always face the consequences of speaking an unnatural or incorrect version of these different languages. Tan emphasizes that societies should come to accept different versions of language and that they should interpret their thoughts in the ways they need to, because emotional responses can portray meaning just as much as garbled sentences.
Tan copies a very long quotation from her mother, which was a story about her wedding day and a gangster that showed up to show his congratulations.
"Du Yusong having business like fruit stand. Like off the street kind. He is Du like Du Zong- but not Tsung-ming Island people. The local people call putong, the river east side, he belong to that side local people. That man want to ask Du Zong father take him in like become own family. Du Zong father wasn't look down on him, but didn't take seriously, until that man big like become a mafia. Now important person, ver hard to inviting him. Chinese way, came only to show respect, don't stay for dinner. Respect for making big celebration, he shows up. Mean gives a lot of respect. Chinese custom. Chinese social life that way. If too important won't have to stay too long. He come to my wedding. I didn't see, I heard it. I gone to boy's side, they have YMCA dinner. Chinese age I was nineteen."
This quotation was used in its entirety because Tan purposely wanted to show the garbled and unique version of English that her mother speaks. If Tan had chosen to paraphrase, the point of how different her English is would have been lost. It would be like if Tan had grammatically fixed up this paragraph to not make it seem as bad. Even though her thoughts on the matter are shown through the emotion of the story, people would be less willing to be respectful towards her because of the choppy English.
Tan also struggled with having to be the speaker of the family on behalf of her mother. She would have to go on the phone pretending to be her mother to get money back or to get important medical information. Tan realized that Americans would not treat her mother with the level of respect or urgency of a native English speaker, so Tan had to be the one to earn the respect for the both of them with her correct language. This forced Tan to be fearful of being treated the same way as her mother, so when she decided to go into the writing world despite having no support from her teachers, she worked tirelessly to become witty and write profoundly in a foreign language. Instead of creating these profoundly beautiful sentences, she butchered the language by making it seem unnatural and confusing to even native speakers.
Language is an integral part of every culture. Each society demands that one must learn their home country's language or be treated like a second class citizen. There is such a fine line that needs to be walked for bilingual persons because they must always face the consequences of speaking an unnatural or incorrect version of these different languages. Tan emphasizes that societies should come to accept different versions of language and that they should interpret their thoughts in the ways they need to, because emotional responses can portray meaning just as much as garbled sentences.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Humor Helps
Humor, used in the correct way, can serve as a light way to convey heavier emotions and causes. In The "F Word", Firoozeh Dumas illustrates her experiences of having an exotic name in America with moments of dry humor. Dumas easily wove in one-liners and subtle remarks throughout her piece, and this was able to help her develop her arguement because in the situations she had to face, she had to find the humor within it all. It also shows that if humor is involved in a piece, the reader will show increased interest in the subject at hand.
The first two lines of the piece set the tone for how this story will be portrayed. "My cousin's name, Farbod, means "Greatness." When he moved to America, all the kids called him "Farthead." This simple statement right off the bat has the reader hooked immediately. The reason this plays to Dumas' advantage is because this is such a relatable situation. All the time, whether it be children or adults, exotic names are butchered and beaten in the United States, which is ironic considering the amount of immigrants that make up the population. She reiterated this type of situation using her own name as an example, by saying, "My name, Firoozeh, chosen by my mother, means "Turquoise" in Farsi. In America, it means "Unpronounceable" or "I'm Not Going to Talk to You Because I Cannot Possibly Learn Your Name and I Just Don't Want to Have to Ask You Again and Again Because You'll Think I'm Dumb or You Might Get Upset or Something." This candid portrayal of what Americans actually mean when they do not want to pronounce a foreign name correctly shows that Dumas can make light of such an ordinarily upsetting situation. By displaying the true feelings of unwilling Americans, she connects with those that deal with the struggle of having an exotic name and also humorously calls out the Americans that do this every time they see a name other than 'John Smith'.
This helped Dumas form her point in the next paragraph, which was, "All of us immigrants knew that moving to America would be fraught with challenges, but none of us thought that our names would be such an obstacle." One's name is such an intergral part of their being and their identity, even though all a name really is is just a string of syllables that pertains to one person only. To be personally victimized by mispronunciations of her given name and immediately judged by her peers, Dumas had no other choice than to adopt an American name. By switching back and forth between these names, Dumas felt that she had two separate identities before finally settling on her true name. Dumas' use of humorous language helped her to show that even though she knew that her name would be beaten and buthchered by those that only answer to 'Smith', she was able to keep things in a lighter tone and that helped her arguement overall by compelling readers to listen to an honest account of an everyday occurance.
The first two lines of the piece set the tone for how this story will be portrayed. "My cousin's name, Farbod, means "Greatness." When he moved to America, all the kids called him "Farthead." This simple statement right off the bat has the reader hooked immediately. The reason this plays to Dumas' advantage is because this is such a relatable situation. All the time, whether it be children or adults, exotic names are butchered and beaten in the United States, which is ironic considering the amount of immigrants that make up the population. She reiterated this type of situation using her own name as an example, by saying, "My name, Firoozeh, chosen by my mother, means "Turquoise" in Farsi. In America, it means "Unpronounceable" or "I'm Not Going to Talk to You Because I Cannot Possibly Learn Your Name and I Just Don't Want to Have to Ask You Again and Again Because You'll Think I'm Dumb or You Might Get Upset or Something." This candid portrayal of what Americans actually mean when they do not want to pronounce a foreign name correctly shows that Dumas can make light of such an ordinarily upsetting situation. By displaying the true feelings of unwilling Americans, she connects with those that deal with the struggle of having an exotic name and also humorously calls out the Americans that do this every time they see a name other than 'John Smith'.
This helped Dumas form her point in the next paragraph, which was, "All of us immigrants knew that moving to America would be fraught with challenges, but none of us thought that our names would be such an obstacle." One's name is such an intergral part of their being and their identity, even though all a name really is is just a string of syllables that pertains to one person only. To be personally victimized by mispronunciations of her given name and immediately judged by her peers, Dumas had no other choice than to adopt an American name. By switching back and forth between these names, Dumas felt that she had two separate identities before finally settling on her true name. Dumas' use of humorous language helped her to show that even though she knew that her name would be beaten and buthchered by those that only answer to 'Smith', she was able to keep things in a lighter tone and that helped her arguement overall by compelling readers to listen to an honest account of an everyday occurance.
I Believe...
In order to make it in the theatre business and in life, one must be confident in themselves and their abilities. To me, confidence has been something unattainable. I have feared confidence because of the fine line between confidence and arrogance. But I believe that confidence can be gained in the most unlikely situations.
In all my years, I had never been more nervous. It was the kind of nervous that settles in the pit on one’s soul and makes one’s heart claw into their throat. Last year, the drama club put on the production of Godspell. I was awarded the song “Turn Back, O Man”, sung by a very promiscuous character. I was dreading the first time I attempted this song because it was the complete opposite of who I am. This character was loud, confident, and so sure of what she wanted and knew exactly how to obtain it. I had lived my life second guessing every decision I ever made.
That night, it was time for my scene. My director had put off my scene the previous night, due to my absolute discomfort and embarrassment at my predicament. It was now or never at this point. I climbed up the stairs of the main aisle, dread bubbling in my chest with every step. While I waited for my cue line, I took a deep breath to calm my fraying nerves and attempted to still my shaking knees. Somehow, when that cue line reached my ears and I turned around, I just stared straight ahead and became that character. It was like a switch was turned on and all my fears and inhibitions were gone. The feeling of elation and relief I felt afterwards was evident in my quivering hands. It truly was the beginning of a new mindset for me.
I came to realize that the reason I could not perform that song at first was because I kept telling myself that I could not. I would berate myself for not performing a number perfectly, which I still beat myself up over even now. I constantly downplayed my achievements because arrogance is something that I have always feared. I realized that believing in one’s self is completely different from believing one is better than another because of their talent. This thought process has changed me for the better because I can trust myself to be proud of my abilities and not fear the threat of coming off as a diva or a snobby person. I know that I am talented and I will openly admit that. But, I will not use this belief to hurt others or downplay their achievements. Whenever I feel like putting myself down, I will remember this moment and understand that I am good enough to accomplish my goals. I am good enough to achieve my dreams.
I never thought that playing a prostitute would give me a glimpse of confidence, and yet it has. I am forever grateful to know that I can have pride in myself without being seen as arrogant. It has made my mindset more positive and overall I have learned that to have confidence is one of the most elating feelings in the world, which is why I believe that confidence can be found in unlikely ways.
In all my years, I had never been more nervous. It was the kind of nervous that settles in the pit on one’s soul and makes one’s heart claw into their throat. Last year, the drama club put on the production of Godspell. I was awarded the song “Turn Back, O Man”, sung by a very promiscuous character. I was dreading the first time I attempted this song because it was the complete opposite of who I am. This character was loud, confident, and so sure of what she wanted and knew exactly how to obtain it. I had lived my life second guessing every decision I ever made.
That night, it was time for my scene. My director had put off my scene the previous night, due to my absolute discomfort and embarrassment at my predicament. It was now or never at this point. I climbed up the stairs of the main aisle, dread bubbling in my chest with every step. While I waited for my cue line, I took a deep breath to calm my fraying nerves and attempted to still my shaking knees. Somehow, when that cue line reached my ears and I turned around, I just stared straight ahead and became that character. It was like a switch was turned on and all my fears and inhibitions were gone. The feeling of elation and relief I felt afterwards was evident in my quivering hands. It truly was the beginning of a new mindset for me.
I came to realize that the reason I could not perform that song at first was because I kept telling myself that I could not. I would berate myself for not performing a number perfectly, which I still beat myself up over even now. I constantly downplayed my achievements because arrogance is something that I have always feared. I realized that believing in one’s self is completely different from believing one is better than another because of their talent. This thought process has changed me for the better because I can trust myself to be proud of my abilities and not fear the threat of coming off as a diva or a snobby person. I know that I am talented and I will openly admit that. But, I will not use this belief to hurt others or downplay their achievements. Whenever I feel like putting myself down, I will remember this moment and understand that I am good enough to accomplish my goals. I am good enough to achieve my dreams.
I never thought that playing a prostitute would give me a glimpse of confidence, and yet it has. I am forever grateful to know that I can have pride in myself without being seen as arrogant. It has made my mindset more positive and overall I have learned that to have confidence is one of the most elating feelings in the world, which is why I believe that confidence can be found in unlikely ways.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
My Home
When I am having a rough day or life is too overwhelming, all I want to do is to retreat to the safety of my home. To me, the word "home" takes on many forms, not just the place that I live. There are people in my life that I have come to associate with the word "home". My mother is one of these people. Whenever I am with her, I just get this feeling of serenity and happiness. To be perfectly honest, sometimes the only thing that gets me through my day is knowing that I will be with my mom when the day is over and I will be able to spend at least a little time with her. She just understands me so well and never fails to make me laugh. She's my best friend and I can always rely on her being there for me, and I think that that is one of components of "home". To me, "home" is being able to be vulnerable in a space, where all one feels is safety and trust.
Another example of "home" for me is my friend Alex. I have known this boy for 6 years now and I can still clearly remember how we absolutely hated each other in middle school. Though we have had our ups and downs throughout our friendship, I can truthfully say that he has become my brother and my "home". I think another form of "home" is comfort with another person. There are many moments throughout my day where I think 'Oh, what would Alex think of that?' or 'I need to tell that to Alex'. It never feels awkward or annoying to talk to him and that is something very rare for me. We have this joke where the two of us have absolutely no boundaries and that we know everything about each other. I think that is one of the main reasons why he feels like "home" to me. To be able to know that I can tell Alex anything and that nothing is off-limits is one of the best feelings in the world and I am always grateful to him for that.
"Home" to me is more than just a space in which I live. I also experience it when I am in the theatre. The theatre for me has become, as Mrs. Carraher says, a "home away from home." I have experienced so much self growth and companionship through my connections within the theatre and I think that is one of the many reasons why I am going to continue to pursue musical theatre. Constantly being surrounded by people that are passionate about the arts and about devoting time and energy to the characters we portray is so inspiring and becomes a unique process with every show. Sometimes (most of the time) things can become stressful and it can be scary to go to a place where you could easily disappoint one's director or cast members. But I think that can be seen as "home" because it is not always a happy place. Human emotions and stressful situations can twist the feelings that home brings and can make it an uncomfortable place. If "home" was always this perfect place, I think that no one would truly have a "home" because no one person is perfect. Though one's home can hold flaws and become a stressful place, it just shows that it can always return to a place of serenity and comfort and that is the magic that "home" brings.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
True Activism
Technology is what binds us together. Social media has become a ways of sharing information, finding a perfect match, and keeping in touch with old friends or family members. In this sense, social media is a very convenient option for communiation. Recently, activism has been added to the list of what social media is capable of achieveing. As Malcolm Gladwell points out in his essay, Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted, "The new tools of social media have reinvented social activism." This statement proves true with all of the hashtags on Twitter supporting different causes and demands for justice. But, can this really be called social activim, or is it just a glorifyed form of participation and awareness?
For example, there is the story of Ahmed and the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed. This child brought a homemade clock to his school and was arrested on the suspicions that the clock was actually a bomb. He was later cleared of his accusations when people including Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama invited him to visit their offices and supported his interest in science. The hashtag was bounced around for a while on social media and everything came to a happy end when Ahmed was offered these opportunities and moved on from his school. The people that actively retweeted this story and offered their support. While this made the people retweeting this act happy and self satisfied, it was not true activism.
"Social networks are effective at increasing participation--by lessening the level of motivation that participation requires." This perfectly describes how "activism" on social media is. The people retweeting these hashtags and reblogging these posts are sitting safely behind a phone screen. They are not getting into the issue at hand and they have no real personal connection to the words that they are repeating. Now, there can certainly be a personal or moral duty to support those who are falsely accused of crimes not committed. Social media has even served to being light to subjects that would have otherwise been looked over or completely forgotten. But unless the person preaching these words are actually causing the change that they so desire, then the word "activist" cannot be applied.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Beautiful Ballerinas
Now, given that this photo was used for a ballet company, where the performers have to be in top athletic condition, this is a justifiable depiction of their lithe bodies. I can also appreciate how the artist tried to capture the natural beauty that ballerinas carry within themselves. However, I felt that it was just another example of how we as women and as a society cannot escape these images of tiny waists and long legs.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Feminism
Feminism, by definition, is "the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men". While this definition clearly point out the criteria of feminism in the literal sense, I agree with author Roxane Gay's preferred definition, first said by Kathy Bail, which is: "'women who don't want to be treated like sh*t.'" In Gay's Bad Feminist essay, she reflects on what society sees as "essential feminism," and how putting a label with a negative association in society today leaves no wiggle room for advocates to express their own individuality. Women are already categorized and forced into certain archetypes based on weight, appearance, lack of or too much makeup, sexual orientation, gender orientation, and so many others. Why, then, should feminism be seen as just women being angry and uncooperative, when it has been a social movement from the nineteenth century onwards for the equality of both men, women, and those who fall in between?
Gay describes how feminism has taken on a cringeworthy aspect to it. She says that, "I sometimes cringe when someone refers to me as a feminist, as if I should be ashamed of my feminism or as if the word feminist is an insult". Gay clearly states how she has been reduced to something shameful. I am afraid of the word feminist at times. I have read stories, including this essay, where once the author admits to being a part of this equality-driven movement, the person they are speaking with normally sneers or gives a look clearly implying that being a feminist is the exact opposite of what a woman wants to be. All it does is add more to labels; we have so many labels on each other that our individuality drowns in stereotypes. I am glad that Gay included this in her essay because feminists are called out on their passion by people who immediately want to put them down as the "'angry feminist'".
Gay also touches upon the "fear of being forced into a box that cannot quite accomodate a woman properly." She reveals that she loves the color pink and that she knows absolutely nothing about cars. In society's eyes, this is seen as something strange because feminists have to be to do it all to be considered equal or good. She goes on to say that she listens to rap music that has lyrics that offend her personally but she listens anyway because she loves that music. Gay likes men, she wants a child, and she wants to be able to keep her job without having to constantly be strong and unemotional to keep her respect and authority among her coworkers. Gay is a human being. Human beings cannot fit into a certain mold and just accept every single thing that they are supposedly "meant to be like" and they cannot deny the emotions that are meant to keep their mental stability intact. Gay does not need to know how to fix a car to be able to be called feminist. Gay should not have to hand over her job that she loves to take on motherhood and never look back. This is the reality that feminists face every day. There always has to be a choice, whether it be a child over a job, makeup over none, or even black over pink as a favorite color. We need to stop using the simplest things as a ways of attacking another person into conforming with the steroetypes placed on us.
There should also be men given the rights that women currently have, few as they may be. Women are allowed to be emotional and to express their feelings. The acceptance of these emotions has gotten to a point where a man showing emotion or crying is seen as being "feminine". Why should a man, performing a natural bodily response to something such as pain or stress, have to hide and bottle up these feelings? Why should men lashing out at a lover or a family member after bottling up all of these emotions for months or even years been seen as something commonplace while women can rid themselves of their emotional baggage more easily? If men want to be able to have the right to do what is seen as something completely natural to women, then they need to join the feminist movement. Hyper masculinity may have (doesn't have any) perks, being macho can only carry one so far until they break down completely. I think that in order to reach the equality that we desire as women, we need to promise equality for men as well and get them to join our cause.
Gay describes how feminism has taken on a cringeworthy aspect to it. She says that, "I sometimes cringe when someone refers to me as a feminist, as if I should be ashamed of my feminism or as if the word feminist is an insult". Gay clearly states how she has been reduced to something shameful. I am afraid of the word feminist at times. I have read stories, including this essay, where once the author admits to being a part of this equality-driven movement, the person they are speaking with normally sneers or gives a look clearly implying that being a feminist is the exact opposite of what a woman wants to be. All it does is add more to labels; we have so many labels on each other that our individuality drowns in stereotypes. I am glad that Gay included this in her essay because feminists are called out on their passion by people who immediately want to put them down as the "'angry feminist'".
Gay also touches upon the "fear of being forced into a box that cannot quite accomodate a woman properly." She reveals that she loves the color pink and that she knows absolutely nothing about cars. In society's eyes, this is seen as something strange because feminists have to be to do it all to be considered equal or good. She goes on to say that she listens to rap music that has lyrics that offend her personally but she listens anyway because she loves that music. Gay likes men, she wants a child, and she wants to be able to keep her job without having to constantly be strong and unemotional to keep her respect and authority among her coworkers. Gay is a human being. Human beings cannot fit into a certain mold and just accept every single thing that they are supposedly "meant to be like" and they cannot deny the emotions that are meant to keep their mental stability intact. Gay does not need to know how to fix a car to be able to be called feminist. Gay should not have to hand over her job that she loves to take on motherhood and never look back. This is the reality that feminists face every day. There always has to be a choice, whether it be a child over a job, makeup over none, or even black over pink as a favorite color. We need to stop using the simplest things as a ways of attacking another person into conforming with the steroetypes placed on us.
There should also be men given the rights that women currently have, few as they may be. Women are allowed to be emotional and to express their feelings. The acceptance of these emotions has gotten to a point where a man showing emotion or crying is seen as being "feminine". Why should a man, performing a natural bodily response to something such as pain or stress, have to hide and bottle up these feelings? Why should men lashing out at a lover or a family member after bottling up all of these emotions for months or even years been seen as something commonplace while women can rid themselves of their emotional baggage more easily? If men want to be able to have the right to do what is seen as something completely natural to women, then they need to join the feminist movement. Hyper masculinity may have (doesn't have any) perks, being macho can only carry one so far until they break down completely. I think that in order to reach the equality that we desire as women, we need to promise equality for men as well and get them to join our cause.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Please Stop Hating My Childhood
I have grown up loving Disney. I have dressed up as multiple princesses (Jasmine, Ariel, and Alice) for Halloween, have watched many of the movies multiple times, and even met some of the princesses in real life when I went to Disney World in the 4th grade. Even earlier this year, almost everyone in this class had some part in the Disney Gala we performed in May. So it's pretty clear that the Disney franchise has played a very big role in my life and continues to do so. In class last Friday, we read Deborah Ross' Escape from Wonderland: Disney and the Female Imagination, which basically put down every movie ever created by Disney due to their "reluctance to embrace imagination with both arms", feelings of distrust and danger towards dreaming, and "rigid adherence to rules". Even with the close scrutiny done by Ross with her examples used in Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, all the reader can do is feel attacked and exasperated when reading this essay.
Ross uses examples from Disney's films to support the idea that imagination is not homogenous and that Disney should not be supporting the idea that marriage is the end all be all for girls. She says that "conservative authors have used romances and novels to teach that their dreams are dangerous and of little relevance to their daily lives". Children are taught to dream and as they grow up they can percieve whether those dreams are realistic or absolutely unachieveable. In Alice, Ross points out that at first "Alice stories...present adventure as positive". And it absolutely is. We shoudl be encouraging girls to go around the world and see new things and explore their passions. But then Ross says that Alice fears her dreams and wants to go home and go back to reality. This shows that we should not follow our dreams and that we should accept the fate that is given to us. And I love this story and it feels like this is such a bad representation of what that story was.
I completely agree, marriage should not be the end of their tales. In the Little Mermaid, Ariel wants to see our world. She wants to walk on the street and sit in the sun and learn how to dance. The viewer roots for her in this aspect, especially with her "Part of Your World" song. But in the movie, as soon as she locks eyes with that prince, all of those dreams seemingly vanish with the blindess of love. I read the original tale before it was mentioned in this essay, so I knew what Ariel truly wanted. All she wanted was to be a spirit of the air and to gain a soul for Heaven. The movie completely looks over that tragic beauty to her character and instead replaces it with a bouquet and veil. It takes away the sacrifices that the little mermaid had to endure to gain her freedom and her legs and instead made her out to be a perfect housewife for Eric.
Now, this essay made some great points in its attack on marriage being the "happily ever after" and that dreaming should not be seen as a flaw. But it was such a chore to read and honestly I became so frustrated with Ross, if I am being completely honest. I have such a personal connection with both these movies and the fairy tales. I can sincerely say that I enjoy both the books and the movies. But the blatant attack that Ross uses immediately makes me exasperated. It just sounds like another adult berating a child for still dreaming when we're apparently too old to do so.
Ross uses examples from Disney's films to support the idea that imagination is not homogenous and that Disney should not be supporting the idea that marriage is the end all be all for girls. She says that "conservative authors have used romances and novels to teach that their dreams are dangerous and of little relevance to their daily lives". Children are taught to dream and as they grow up they can percieve whether those dreams are realistic or absolutely unachieveable. In Alice, Ross points out that at first "Alice stories...present adventure as positive". And it absolutely is. We shoudl be encouraging girls to go around the world and see new things and explore their passions. But then Ross says that Alice fears her dreams and wants to go home and go back to reality. This shows that we should not follow our dreams and that we should accept the fate that is given to us. And I love this story and it feels like this is such a bad representation of what that story was.
I completely agree, marriage should not be the end of their tales. In the Little Mermaid, Ariel wants to see our world. She wants to walk on the street and sit in the sun and learn how to dance. The viewer roots for her in this aspect, especially with her "Part of Your World" song. But in the movie, as soon as she locks eyes with that prince, all of those dreams seemingly vanish with the blindess of love. I read the original tale before it was mentioned in this essay, so I knew what Ariel truly wanted. All she wanted was to be a spirit of the air and to gain a soul for Heaven. The movie completely looks over that tragic beauty to her character and instead replaces it with a bouquet and veil. It takes away the sacrifices that the little mermaid had to endure to gain her freedom and her legs and instead made her out to be a perfect housewife for Eric.
Now, this essay made some great points in its attack on marriage being the "happily ever after" and that dreaming should not be seen as a flaw. But it was such a chore to read and honestly I became so frustrated with Ross, if I am being completely honest. I have such a personal connection with both these movies and the fairy tales. I can sincerely say that I enjoy both the books and the movies. But the blatant attack that Ross uses immediately makes me exasperated. It just sounds like another adult berating a child for still dreaming when we're apparently too old to do so.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Entropy
Hi! I want to talk about one of my favorite short films called Entropy. The film was made by Rhubarb Zoo in 2008 and I first saw it in 2012 (i think, it was a really long time ago). This is the story of a lonely girl named Harmony who found a companion in a man on the moon. At the time I saw this, a good friend of mine had left my school, so I instantly related to Harmony and her journey. I really love the art style used in this piece and the songs played with the stars are so simple but they compliment the whimsicality of the film. Entropy taught me that there will always be companions to be there for us, even if they are in unexpected places. I just really love this film and I hope you enjoy it as well!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
John Oliver VS. Standardized Testing
In this video, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver picks apart and critiques the system of starndardized tests that plagues students every year. He shows the methods that these companies to use to get kids hyped about testing, and how even with their persuasion the children still refused to take the tests. John Oliver makes his arguement against the standardized tests clear when he gives examples of how inaccurate the test graders are and what effects these tests have on the teachers and children invpved. By using many examples and throwing satirical comments left and right, John Oliver fully uses his power of persuasion to fight against this unfair system.
One major way John Oliver persuades his audience is by using evidence to support his claims and his viewpoint. He uses many clips, pictures, and statisctics to show how the standardized tests negatively effect all those involved. This use of logos helps provide credibility to his claims and makes us believe both him and his evidence gathered. He also gives the origin behind standardized testing by showing a clip of George Bush talking about schools needing to be accountable for the poor test scores United States children showed compared to other childrens' scores from around the world. This set the basis for the reason why standardized testing was increased and the "No Child Left Behind" was created. John Oliver then goes on to explain in the video that while this was a good idea with pure intentions, it created more havoc than improvement. Oliver went on to point out that test scores have gone down since the implementation of these tests and asks why they are still so inaffective.
John Oliver also applies to people's emotions with pathos. He shows just how much these tests harm the children that take them. He shows a photo of one of the rules of the test, stating what to do if a child vomits on his/her test book. This immediately makes the audience reach out with empathy towards the children so anxious and worried about a grade that they get physically ill. He also uses a video where an 8th grade girl is petitioning to stay in an advanvced language class that she is excelling in, but was taken out of due to poor test grades. The audience can clearly see how broken up this girl is about her program being taken away from her and I even felt bad when she started crying and choking up.
Standardized testing is the bane of every child's existance as students. These tests rule their lives and can make them physically, mentally, and emotionally ill, especially if they handle stress poorly or are put under pressure by their teachers or peers. John Oliver looks for ways to fight back against these injustices by using logos and pathos to add to his power of persuasion. He uses examples that makes the audience laugh, pity, and gasp at the systems used for testing. He clearly asks the audience to look at this flawed system and see what we can do to put an end to this source of immense stress. And in the words of John Oliver, I end this analysis with these four words: "Here comes the monkey!"
One major way John Oliver persuades his audience is by using evidence to support his claims and his viewpoint. He uses many clips, pictures, and statisctics to show how the standardized tests negatively effect all those involved. This use of logos helps provide credibility to his claims and makes us believe both him and his evidence gathered. He also gives the origin behind standardized testing by showing a clip of George Bush talking about schools needing to be accountable for the poor test scores United States children showed compared to other childrens' scores from around the world. This set the basis for the reason why standardized testing was increased and the "No Child Left Behind" was created. John Oliver then goes on to explain in the video that while this was a good idea with pure intentions, it created more havoc than improvement. Oliver went on to point out that test scores have gone down since the implementation of these tests and asks why they are still so inaffective.
John Oliver also applies to people's emotions with pathos. He shows just how much these tests harm the children that take them. He shows a photo of one of the rules of the test, stating what to do if a child vomits on his/her test book. This immediately makes the audience reach out with empathy towards the children so anxious and worried about a grade that they get physically ill. He also uses a video where an 8th grade girl is petitioning to stay in an advanvced language class that she is excelling in, but was taken out of due to poor test grades. The audience can clearly see how broken up this girl is about her program being taken away from her and I even felt bad when she started crying and choking up.
Standardized testing is the bane of every child's existance as students. These tests rule their lives and can make them physically, mentally, and emotionally ill, especially if they handle stress poorly or are put under pressure by their teachers or peers. John Oliver looks for ways to fight back against these injustices by using logos and pathos to add to his power of persuasion. He uses examples that makes the audience laugh, pity, and gasp at the systems used for testing. He clearly asks the audience to look at this flawed system and see what we can do to put an end to this source of immense stress. And in the words of John Oliver, I end this analysis with these four words: "Here comes the monkey!"
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Why It's Ok to be an Introvert
First of all, Miss Amodie thank you so much for talking about introversion and how it is relevant and important because honestly introverts need to be praised for being the way that they are so thank you so much!! Ok so today in class we watched a video about introversion and how society is geared to fit the needs for the extrovert, while introverts are forced to become something they are not or to be considered a recluse all their lives. Being an introvert myself, I find it pretty tough to fit in with the majority of extroverts or even ambiverts. In middle school, people would get offeneded or think that I was weird that I would spend my recesses reading books instead of playing with them. In group work or projects, I always have an opinion about what we are doing, but I normally get drowned out by the loudest voice or I am too tired to speak up about what I think and I just go along with the group. Because I am quiet and more reserved, I am immediately seen as stuck up, snotty, or generally considered to be a person not worth getting to know (which if I truly am like that I apologize). It honestly sucks. And don't get me wrong, I love extroverts. My best friend Alex is an extrovert, and it's nice to spend time with him because he drags me into his adventures and we have lots of fun together. We also like to compare how we see the world differently. He absolutely loves talking to people and he can't understand why I would prefer a quiet place with a book. Although, he has learned that I need recharge days and he will back off and give me the space that I need (most of the time). Enough about me. With this video I think that the author clearly showed the benefits of allowing the introverted to stay that way and the power that solitude gives us. I also enjoyed how she did not completely put down extroverts and gave examples on how they are just as important as we are. I liked the 'suitcase' example the most; I feel like it adequately portrayed what each person truly wants, whether they be extroverted or introverted. She used persuasion to show how introversion should be seen as a gift, and while we do need to learn how to collaborate in teams, we need to appreciate the ideas that grow in the silence of solitude. I really, really enjoyed this video and this discussion, thank you again. And I took the test: total introvert, through and through.
About me
Hi I am so sorry I totally forgot to do an about me page so I'll do it now before I forget again.
Hi my name is Emily Darling. Most people call me Darling. Most people also think that I should have been named Wendy, but that didn't happen so yeah. Peter Pan continually haunts me if it wasn't clear enough. I am heavily involved in theatre and the arts. I hope to major in musical theatre when I go to college and I don't really have a back up plan so for now I'm just letting it happen. I also love to read so if anyone has recommendations tell me por favor!
THIS IS MY DOG MAXY HE'S SO FAT IT'S GREAT
Hi my name is Emily Darling. Most people call me Darling. Most people also think that I should have been named Wendy, but that didn't happen so yeah. Peter Pan continually haunts me if it wasn't clear enough. I am heavily involved in theatre and the arts. I hope to major in musical theatre when I go to college and I don't really have a back up plan so for now I'm just letting it happen. I also love to read so if anyone has recommendations tell me por favor!
THIS IS MY DOG MAXY HE'S SO FAT IT'S GREAT
Monday, September 28, 2015
SCWAMP clip
http://youtu.be/B86ixiypBeE
Hey so this is my clip. It's from the opening scene of "The Great Gatsby" film. I could only find the 1974 version so sorry if you wanted Tobey Maguire. Anyway, there's a part at 3:30 that I think perfectly describes SCWAMP.
The reason why I feel like it describes SCWAMP is because of the line Nick Carraway says at the very beginning of the scene. He says,
"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'
This quote adequately describes the ideals of SCWAMP because Nick Carraway is a straight, able-bodied, white male owning property in West Egg, New York. He was given the opportunity to go to college at New Haven with Tom Buchanan, who also embodies the characteristics of a man who could rule the world.
I think that the book in general gives a gist of what SCWAMP is about. It is about greedy men, whether it be Gatsby or Tom Buchanan, always looking for ways to increase their fortune and their grasp on Daisy especially. Daisy even says that '...the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool'. Daisy already knows from experience that women will not get to do what they aspire to in the world because of the limitations caused by their gender. This shows that SCWAMP was as relevant in the 20's as it is now, and I believe that the book and the quote fit the mold perfectly.
Hey so this is my clip. It's from the opening scene of "The Great Gatsby" film. I could only find the 1974 version so sorry if you wanted Tobey Maguire. Anyway, there's a part at 3:30 that I think perfectly describes SCWAMP.
The reason why I feel like it describes SCWAMP is because of the line Nick Carraway says at the very beginning of the scene. He says,
"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'
This quote adequately describes the ideals of SCWAMP because Nick Carraway is a straight, able-bodied, white male owning property in West Egg, New York. He was given the opportunity to go to college at New Haven with Tom Buchanan, who also embodies the characteristics of a man who could rule the world.
I think that the book in general gives a gist of what SCWAMP is about. It is about greedy men, whether it be Gatsby or Tom Buchanan, always looking for ways to increase their fortune and their grasp on Daisy especially. Daisy even says that '...the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool'. Daisy already knows from experience that women will not get to do what they aspire to in the world because of the limitations caused by their gender. This shows that SCWAMP was as relevant in the 20's as it is now, and I believe that the book and the quote fit the mold perfectly.
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