Reflection - Last Blog of the Semester!!

This class has taught me a lot about my writing skills. I have learned how to write articulately and I think this will help me write essays in college as well. Through blogging, I think deeply about the content we cover in class and the books we read. I go more in-depth with ideas that I never would've thought to explore in the past. Similar to blogging, I think that the discussions we had in class over the short stories and Oedipus have made me become a stronger person. That might sound kind of cheesy, but by that I mean that I am more confident in discussing openly with others and I stand firmly by what I say. Previously, I used to just go with what everyone else says. The discussions in this class have taught me that it's okay to stand out from the group because a different idea may inspire a new topic of discussion.

The only thing that has frustrated me so far is the inquiry project. Every time I think I have books that relate to a topic, I realize that they really relate to a different topic. I've changed topics about three times now, and the proposal is due next Tuesday.  I can't imagine how challenging the project will be if the proposal is this hard for me, but maybe once I choose books and a topic it will all become more clear. 

Something that I hope to change for next semester is my comprehension skills. I feel like when we read something for homework and come to class to discuss it, I don't always come to the same conclusions that everyone else came to. This makes me feel a bit clueless. For example, with Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants everyone was like "Oh my gosh I think it's abortion!" I knew it was some medical procedure, but I didn't catch on to that. I think that if I can improve my comprehension skills that this won't happen as often.

Overall, this class has provided me with insight into a literature class. In the past, English has been mostly about writing: how to write a personal narrative, short story, reflection, etc. In this class, the emphasis is on reading and writing about literature, which is a significant change.

Another Irritating Yet Inevitable Phenomenon Known as SENIORITIS!

When my sister was a senior in high school, she would always say, "Ugh, I have senioritis!"  And my response would be, "That's never going to happen to me! I'm going to be so responsible!"

Okay, so that's not quite what happened.  I think I got senioritis during the second semester of my junior year. 

I don't know exactly how it happens. I sit down if front of my books, absolutely determined to be productive. Thirty minutes later, I'm doing one of three things: staring at my phone, playing games on my phone, or going on Facebook/Twitter (again, on my phone). Maybe I should lock my phone away and I would get more things done... I guess that's a different blog post.

Another thing I end up doing is going on YouTube looking for funny and entertaining videos. Don't judge me, you do it too! And then I thought, I might as well find something cool for a blog post for AP English (because that's just how my mind works and AP English is the first thing I think of when I'm on YouTube)! Anyway, I found a video on senioritis that I think was made by high school students somewhere else. Click the link below to watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeq7nxfEBfQ

Believe it or not, this video and blog post does have to do with our satire unit. The students are making fun of senioritis, which isn't even a real word and doesn't have a medical diagnosis. They use hyperbole and exaggeration to show the extreme effects of senioritis. In real life, people  make a huge deal out of senioritis.

Well, even though I have diagnosed myself with senioritis, I have managed to get something educational done. I'm going to end this post now because the spell check is freaking every time I type the word "senioritis."  Hope you enjoyed the video!

The Bigger, the Better, the Much Much Taller iPhone 5

After we had the intro to satire today, I went on YouTube to look for examples of satire. I found a video about the iPhone 5 and it was hilarious. Watch the video and I think you'll know what I'm talking about.

iPhone 5 Parody video

This video is a perfect example of a parody. The creators of this video are poking fun at the fact that Apple is making a big deal of the changes between the previous iPhone and the iPhone 5.  They use hyperbole and exaggeration to show how they made the new iPhone longer than the old one.

Satire is really an interesting concept.  What interests me the most is this question: Why do we continue to laugh at things like this video if they are sometimes targeted at us? For example, people who absolutely love the iPhone 5 because of its changed length most likely won't be offended by this video.  They will probably laugh along with the rest of us, even though the video is somewhat targeted at them.  You'd think that we would be offended , but perhaps the funny component of satire overpowers that part.

Here is another parody about the Wii Fit. I didn't think it was as funny as the iPhone 5 video, but it's still pretty good: Wii Fit Parody video

This video is another example of satire because it points out that people are spending hundreds of dollar on a "white thing" that does all the same things people can do on their own: leaning, sticking their leg out, dodging soccer balls, looking at charts, etc.  The main criticism in this video is that people use the Wii Fit as a means of exercise when they should actually exercise on their own, without a $300 white board.

Pride and Prejudice vs. Twilight

I got home from my Reading Extravaganza discussion about Pride and Prejudice when I realized I haven't blogged this week. And since Breaking Dawn has gotten so many people sitting on the edge of their seats (even though practically everyone's already read the series), I thought this topic would be very appropriate for a blog post.

So let's get straight to it. Pride and Prejudice vs. Twilight. What are some similarities and differences between these two tales?

                           

At first glance, it seems hard to find some similarities between any aspect of these stories, whether you're discussing books or movies. However, take out the vampire aspect of the Twilight series, and I think you'll agree that there are some similarities. Mr. Darcy and Edward are both very dark, mysterious characters who are unwilling to succumb to their emotions and admit that they are in love with Elizabeth and Bella. Both Elizabeth and Bella stand out from what the reader expects. Elizabeth is very outspoken compared to women of her time and isn't as mellow as a woman was expected to be. In Twilight, the reader expects Bella to stay away from Edwards' mysteriousness but she invites him in. 

It is easier to find differences between the two. Obviously, the Twilight series isn't even realistic because the Cullens are vampires. More importantly, the relationship between the two couples differs greatly. Elizabeth represents something unheard of at the time Jane Austen wrote the book: a strong, independent woman. Conversely, Bella is so dependent on Edward that, according to my Reading Extravaganza facilitator, she would "suck the life out of him" (not a very good joke, but they're not my words).  The endings are also different. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are together in a healthy relationship. Although Bella and Edward are also together at the end of Twilight, I consider their relationship to be very unhealthy. Bella is extremely dependent on Edward and can't even live with the thought of not being with him. Then again, this is my opinion, so to anyone on Team Edward, you're entitled to your opinion too. 

I just thought our discussion took an interesting turn with respect to comparing Pride and Prejudice and Twilight. Just to clear things up, I am not a Twilight hater, and I plan on seeing Breaking Dawn sometime over Thanksgiving weekend. To Mr. Mullins, I know you hate Nicholas Sparks, so I can only assume that you don't like Stephenie Meyers that much. Sorry if this blog post caused you any pain. It won't happen again. :)                                                       

Election Day

http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/american-flag-2a.jpg

Election Day always creates an interesting discussion. In my A4 class yesterday, I was complaining about how I'm only seventeen, so I can't vote. The teacher then said, "I hate to break it to you, but this is Kentucky so it doesn't really matter how you vote." I can see where he's coming from seeing as Kentucky is die-hard conservative but that really made me wonder, why don't some Americans care about voting?

I think part of it is because people think there isn't a direct incentive to voting. Besides getting an "I Voted!" sticker, Americans don't immediately experience some type of reward. On the flip side of that, there really isn't any punishment if you don't vote.  No one from the government is going to come after you if you don't vote. I disagree with the viewpoint that there are no incentives. My grandparents moved here to live with us because they can't really support themselves all alone in India, which means that they have to get medical insurance in case of an emergency. So this election really affects my family because the opponents differ on their views with health insurance. I think that just because some people aren't affected by the candidate's decisions, they shouldn't be so apathetic.

I also don't understand why people think that voting won't affect them. In case they haven't noticed, the economy isn't exactly the best economy in the world (literally) and the economy affects EVERYONE! If you have a job, that's part of the economy. If you're a college student, that's part of the economy. Whether you're rich or poor, that affects the economy. If you pay taxes (which hopefully you do), then that's part of the economy too. People are under the false impression that voting won't affect them but each candidate has different views on economic policy. 

And then there are those people who say that they would rather refrain from voting rather than make an uneducated choice. My answer to that is: EDUCATE YOURSELF! It's okay to be ignorant of politics, I'm actually not a huge fan myself, but seriously? This is the age of the Internet and even though Wikipedia may not be the most reliable source out there, there are hundreds of other websites that will educate people about the candidates. If you don't know anything about the candidates, look it up! At the risk of sounding like a motivational speaker, you are in charge of your own knowledge, so take responsibility! 

I understand if you're not a citizen or something, I'm not asking you to commit voter fraud. But seriously, if you can, just vote. I don't care who it's for, just vote for the right reasons.

Oedipus is BLIND!!!!!!

Well, I had to get everyone's attention somehow with the title. Before reading this post, watch the following video:

That's pretty interesting. I think we can all agree that fate and free will are the forefront of this play. But like the woman in the video mentions, truth is equally important. Had Oedipus never felt the need to find the truth,  he wouldn't have sought out the oracle that told him he would kill his father and marry his mother. 

Truth is important, but I think hubris is the most important of all. One of my discussion ideas for today dealt with Oedipus' hubris, or overreaching qualities. I interpret hubris to be a characteristic that causes one to take responsibility for every problem, compelling them to try to resolve it. (So, if the Harry Potter series were a Greek tragedy, I would say that Harry's flaw is hubris because he feels responsible for basically anything bad that happens at Hogwarts. Actually, Harry Potter resembles Oedipus with regards to the whole prophecy thing, but that's another blog post.)

Anyway, my opinion is that Oedipus' hubris contributed to his downfall. He heard the oracle before he left Corinth and took it upon himself to evade his fate. He took responsibility for this problem and thought that he had the power to fix it, when in fact he didn't. This occurs again at the beginning of the play, when he feels it is his responsibility to find out why the plague is spreading. I agree that as King of Thebes, he should be concerned for his people. But I also believe that a concerned ruler should seek a rational solution instead of resorting to oracles and seers. Then again, this was at around 430 B.C., when everything was dictated by the gods so I may be raising a very controversial issue. I just thought it was cool to consider the fact that although Oedipus didn't mean to reveal all of these truths, they eventually led to his downfall because he thought he could solve all his problems.

Another interesting point of discussion is at the very end of the video. The woman mentions that by gouging his eyes out, Oedipus is making himself blind to the truth of his actions. I actually saw this in the opposite way. I thought that Oedipus finally realized the truth of his actions as he gouged his eyes out, even though he was physically blind. I thought that Sophocles chose to contrast him with Teiresias, who was always physically blind but knew the truth all along. This video really made me consider a different position for that topic.

This play is just full of analysis. Maybe not so much as Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants," but the symbolism definitely makes it a close second.

The Irritating Yet Inevitable Phenomenon Known As The College Application Process

To me, the college application process is more than just a process. It's a battle. Every time I log into my Common Application account, I get so lazy that I end up staring at the screen for thirty minutes. Whenever I'm not doing something college-related, I feel anxious and guilty because I feel like I'm neglecting it. Right now, for example, I was in the middle of writing one of my essays when poof! I started writing this blog. Kudos to the application for inspiring me to write this but it's not helping me finish my essay!

I know that a lot of people feel this way, but I really just need to vent about it (mostly because my parents are probably tired of hearing me complain, and my sister is in college so I can't complain to her). So here goes.

Until just a few minutes ago, applying to college didn't seem that bad. I even made a schedule for myself to plan out which scholarship applications to do when so that it wouldn't seem so overwhelming. But what really grinds my gears the most about it are the essays. Apparently, they are supposed to help us become better writers in the future. I can guarantee that these college essays aren't helping me in English class, and I don't see how they are supposed to help in the future. Some of my friends say that a prompt for a supplement essay was: "Where is Waldo?" I'm glad I'm not applying to that college. 

Another thing: the word limit. It's seem confusing to me. At the end of every prompt, there is always something to the effect of "Please limit your response to no more than 500 words." Are we supposed to use 500 words exactly, and if we have 520 words will our response get cut off? If we only use 300 words, is that insufficient?

So that's pretty much it about college apps. What do you guys think? Am I exaggerating or are my complaints actually logical?

Looks Can Be Deceiving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-vyUQx5Yss

I know that we had a discussion in class about "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People," but most of the conversation revolved around the latter. So this week, I made an attempt to find a video related to either of Flannery O'Connor's stories.  This one is from "Good Country People." (Fast forward to 5:25 to watch the part where Manley and Hulga go on their date. If the video doesn't play for some reason, I put the link under it, so just click on that.) 

Poor Hulga. She has a wooden leg and she was taken advantage of. While I do pity her situation, I still think that she shouldn't have been so naive. I mentioned this in class, but I will say it once again: I don't mean to be rude or insensitive by any means. I understand that handicapped people face obstacles that I cannot even begin to fathom. However, Hulga is 32 years old and has little room for excuses. Given that the story was published in 1955, I'm assuming that most women, especially women in Hulga's predicament, were not as gregarious as they are now. Therefore, I think Hulga should have picked up on the fact that Manley, on the first date, was being a bit too forward in asking her to remove her wooden leg.  And maybe it's just me being too sheltered or something, but who tells someone they love them on the first date? Wasn't it kind of obvious to her that he wanted something? Also, he didn't even care that she lied about her age, considering the fact that Hulga claimed to be 17, a grand total of 15 years of difference.

Overall, I do feel badly that Hulga was abandoned without her wooden leg. Just to be perfectly clear, I do not hate Hulga or think that she deserved what she got, but I think that given her age and her experiences she should have been more cautious. I know that the purpose of this story is to show that looks can be deceiving with Manley. However, I think that looks can be deceiving with regards to Hulga as well. I expected her to be extremely sheltered because she is a 32-year-old woman living at home with an apparently useless degree in philosophy, yet she randomly decides to go on a picnic with a guy named Manley Pointer. Again, this might just be me, but Hulga should have seen it coming.  

Existentialism...NOT Explained

Existentialism. Where to begin? Even after our discussion in class on Monday, it's hard for me to understand the logic behind this stance. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that selfishness is always bad.  It's just that I think existentialism is a bit extreme for my taste. I couldn't find many relevant videos on existentialism to supplement this post (the ones I did find made me question whether they were school-appropriate), so instead I searched quotes on existentialism.  The following quote really stood out to me:

"There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point... The truly adult view, by contrast, is that our life is as meaningful, as full and as wonderful as we choose to make it." - Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion 

This quote seems outspoken to me. I was searching videos and quotes not only to supplement this blog post but also to try to understand why existentialists believe what they do. However, this quote just confused me even more. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with feeling a certain way due to someone else. I don't believe that one should let others control them, but it's okay to feel happy because of someone else's actions.  For example, if someone throws you a surprise party for your birthday, it's natural to feel happy. So I don't know why Dawkins thinks that this would be an example of someone else having "a responsibility to give your life meaning and point."  

Moving on to the second part of this quote: 

"The truly adult view, by contrast, is that our life is as meaningful, as full and as wonderful as we choose to make it."

As much as I dislike Dawkins' quote, I actually agree with this part. I believe that unless you actively make a difference in your life, there won't be any progress. What I don't appreciate is his statement that this a "truly adult view." I am only seventeen years old and I most certainly lack the maturity of an adult, but I am aware that I choose to make my life a certain way.  I know that I choose to be a positive or negative person. I know that I can be a better person or a worse person. So for Dawkins to say that this is only an adult view seems almost hurtful and harsh because it seems like he's belittling teenagers.
I may be taking this quote completely out of context. Perhaps if I knew why he made that statement or what situation he was in, my perspective would change. But as a student who strongly disagrees with this philosophy  this is my opinion. 

Sibling Rivalry

As I read "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" the description of June made me think of sibling rivalry and its harmful effects. The following cartoon illustrates the unhealthy effects of favoring children.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/cgo/lowres/cgon511l.jpg

Towards the beginning of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Oates describes the dichotomy between Connie and her sister, June. During our discussion in class, I mentioned that Connie may behave the way she does because she wants to be the opposite of her sister, who is portrayed as the better child of the family. Some people disagreed with this view because Connie later states that her mother may like her better than June. However, it's important to note that this speculation was only superficial and was almost a side comment:

"This did not really mean she disliked Connie and actually Connie thought that her mother preferred her to June because she was prettier..."

The rest of this sentence goes back to saying that there is some tension between Connie and her mother. Personally, I think this statement was made due to Connie's insecurities that she isn't like her sister and never will be. As the cartoon shows, putting one child up on a pedestal (as the mother in the story does with June) negatively impacts the other child and is very unhealthy.  Since June is always the child that is being extolled in this story, perhaps Connie resents June and does not want to be anything like her.  So, she goes about everything with a negative attitude and displays bad behavior.   

Through this example of sibling rivalry, Oates achieved one of her purposes, which was to show the reader the various feminine roles in society. Connie's sister displays more traditional roles of women while Connie displays a more progressive persona. By contrasting these roles, Oates demonstrates the two extremes of feminine roles in society at the time. 

Hills Like White Elephants

http://bubblesinmyhead.blogspot.com/2006/03/duality-of-imagery-in-hemingways-hills.html

The following quote from Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" really stood out to me:

"'Yes,' said the girl. 'Everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you've waited so long for, like absinthe.'"

During class today, we mentioned the licorice in our analysis of the story and how it may relate to abortion or pregnancy.  However, I thought it had more to do with Jig's desires to have a baby in the first place. By stating that the hills look like white elephants (which she mentions twice to gain the American's attention), she first tries to start a conversation about her pregnancy.  When Jig mentions the licorice, Hemingway draws a parallel between the bitter taste of the drink and the bitter feeling that she has towards her pregnancy. At first, she wanted to try the drink, so she asked the American to order it for her, only to realize that she dislikes it.  Similarly, she wanted to have a child at first, but after she actually has a "taste" of what pregnancy is like, dislikes the feeling.  Lora and I were discussing this during our group work today in class, and we thought that Jig's apprehension towards having a baby is because of the enormous responsibility. Having a relationship with one other person is extremely different than having a family.  The burden can weigh on the mother (like a white elephant).

I can't directly relate to this burden, but I know that my mother can. She married my dad (through an arranged marriage) when she was nineteen, and they immediately moved to America. My dad had lived here before but my mom hadn't, and she was literally thrown into an environment and lifestyle that she couldn't navigate.  Three months later, she was pregnant with my sister. She doesn't, by any standard, regret having my sister, but I bet there were times during that first year in America that she thought she couldn't handle the responsibility of raising a child. (Obviously, she was wrong because I think my sister and I are pretty good people overall.) 

This quote really summarizes the fact that it's hard to understand something unless one experiences it. Jig thought she wanted to be pregnant but it didn't turn out to be the "walk in the park" that she imagined.

Lessons are like chocolate....you can't have too much!

The homework for tonight was to read "The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara.  The plot of the story focuses on poor children who take a field trip to F.A.O. Schwartz with Miss Moore, the only person on their block to have a college education.  

What I thought was really interesting about this story was that it not only tied into the unit we are studying (theme) but it also was a lesson within a lesson.  In the story, the children learn about the pecuniary (vocab word!!) differences that society can portray.  However, the attitude difference between Miss Moore and the children teaches the reader a lesson as well.  I was also shocked to see how cunning and disrespectful the children were.  Even though they aren't rich and they dislike the idea of earning an education, they should know not to disrespect people older than them.  Economic status does not determine humanity, and the children were holding a grudge against Miss Moore and not wanting to "give her the satisfaction" just because she was smarter than them.  I think it's clear that the narrator was extremely disrespectful, perhaps due to intimidation or because Miss Moore doesn't represent authority.

Ironically I also learned a lesson after reading "Lessons."  I am a peer tutor in a Sophomore English class, and I know that a lot of the kids in that class are either poor or just not motivated to learn.  When I try to engage them in small groups, they completely ignore me.  This story helped me understand why.  I understand that some of the kids may not see me as an authority figure because I am only two years older than them.  Other kids may think I am intimidating because I am a lot smarter than them.  After reading this story, I am more aware of the reasons behind the students' behavior.

Overall, this story was unique in that it showed the dynamic between to types of people in two ways.  It shows the differences between the rich and poor, and educated and non-educated.  I will definitely try to apply more of what I learned in my peer tutor class and in life in general!                               

The Destructors

In class today, we discussed "The Destructors" and filled out a worksheet based on a certain protagonist.  My group's protagonist was the gang of boys as a whole.  As we discussed the theme, we came up with something to the effect of: "Unnecessary destruction or other negative influences can cause people to become numb to exposure of future similar incidents."  The underlying destructive event that most likely inspired this story was the London Blitz.  As the video shows, this really left a lasting international impact because innocent lives were destroyed. (Click here to watch the mentioned video)  

As my table group discussed this, we started to question why boys would think of destroying a house. When you think about it, it's confusing. One can argue that the boys were just trying to have fun and play a prank on the old man, but how does one answer the question about the specific plans to destroy the interior, then the exterior? Why couldn't the boys have taken hammers or knives and just start beating at the house? We thought that it was because of the impact that the London Blitz showed. These boys are so numb to the fact that they are destroying property because they have seen and experienced first-hand the impact of destruction.  It really breaks my heart to think that the London Blitz was so damaging that it inspired someone to write about boys who destroyed a house for pleasure and beguiled an old man. I understand that when I phrase it like that, it seems exaggerated, but the truth can be tough. These children, who may not even understand the political issues that fueled the war, are destroying a man's property.  During our discussion, it dawned on me how much children (including myself and my peers) take stock in our circumstances.  The same is true for these boys.           

I was listening to my iPod the other day and came across the song "I Don't Wanna Be" by Gavin DeGraw. It reminded me of how high school is a time in one's life where they have to essentially "find themselves."  Some students may know exactly what college they want to go to, what their major will be, and they even have a financial plan to supplement their journey to success. Other students have absolutely no idea what they will do and go into a mediocre college with an undecided major, thinking that they will pay off college debts later. And then there are students like me, who are in the middle.  I know that my parents will support my decisions, whatever they may be, but where do I want to go? Should I stay in Kentucky or go out of state and give up in state scholarship? What should my major be?

 http://robertcheeke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/college-application.jpg

DeGraw's song really reminds me that we should be ourselves only think of our "peace of mind." Sure, it's certainly important that we take advice from more experienced people around us, but this ultimately our life. We should decide our life and we should just want to be ourselves. I think that this is crucial to all of us as seniors because the world is filled with so many influences. I've certainly had a lot of trouble finding my own identity as I grow more mature.  My life is filled with influences from more than just my peers, but also my culture.  My career choice will be influenced by my culture as well because I feel like I need to choose a field that is supposedly "acceptable." It's going to be a great adventure, but hopefully it will be well worth it!  

Communication

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_quK9SEGYE

After the discussion about summer reading in class today, I thought about the novels we read in class last year in AP English.  One that resonated with me the most was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. (If you haven't read the book, I've attached a movie trailer, which is pretty accurate.) After we finished this novel, we had many Socratic discussions about the theme of this novel: miscommunication. Pretty soon, we found ourselves arguing about certain aspects of the book. I don't remember who it was, but someone interrupted the argument by stating, "It's so weird that we're arguing about because this book is about miscommunation. So basically we are miscommunicating to each other about the miscommunication in the book." As I was thinking about this book, I realized that this statement applies to our blogs too. What one person blogs about can be misunderstood by someone else, even though the purpose of a blog is to provide clarity through a form of communication. So what's the guarantee that what one student sees as an enjoyable can be misconstrued by another as controversial? I like exploring intricate connections in literature and forming an opinion about it. Hopefully, this blog will be the first of many! :)