Blog Reflection

My favorite blog topic was probably having your say because I was able to express my opinion with a lot of emotion and conviction. I tried not to hold back much to give it a genuine feel for what my opinion was. My least favorite was probably the Expressions in Art because I'm not too fond of artwork and the subject matter is rather depressing, but it is good to reflect upon history and appreciate the arts every now and then. As far as the effort I put in to blogs I would say some weeks received more than others depending on how motivated I was, but I think I did enough for all of them and certain ones I did a little extra. I believe the blogs were a good addition to in class learning and helped develop a deeper connection to the topics. In general, I learned more background information about various topics through the blogs, and a specific example would be the different locations in Harlem and how close they are to each other. Finally, my top three list of the year is Owl Creek, Yellow Wallpaper, and the Fire and Brimstone reading, although I can't remember as much from 1st semester.  

Advice

This year in Junior English we have done a lot of work, but I feel like it has been manageable due to the structure of the class. I think the test format is great because it makes you become comfortable with writing essays in a short period of time which is great practice for the ACT. It also makes you compose your thoughts effectively and tests if you truly understand the material. The idea board for stories is another good concept because it get the class engaged in the themes and symbolism behind stories. I definitely think the idiosyncrasies of grammar review is important because it is another great way to prepare for the ACT. I think keeping the discussion / lecture feel of the class is important because it facilitates the comprehension of the ideas behind all of the stories. In general spice things up from time to time because English can get very boring. Also find a happy medium between letting the class go crazy to killing all the fun because either extreme hinders learning. I hope this is helpful, good luck new English teacher p.s. Eco Club needs a supervisor  

Gatsby Playlist

The first song I chose was "The Charleston" by Arthur Gibbs and His Gang. I think this song would fit as a song playing at one of Gatsby's parties because it is upbeat and sounds like what people would have a good time dancing to back in the day. "April Showers" by Al Jolson is a great song to go with the rainy weather motif in The Great Gatsby because it has a more depressing opera sound that fits sad mood. "High Society" by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band has a luxurious sound to it that would fit an East Egg home like Tom and Daisy's when Nick is visiting them. The last song I chose was "Sweet Georgia Brown" by Ben Bernie and his Orchestra which is another upbeat Charleston, Swing song for any of the parties in the book. I think it will be interesting to see the music they pick for the upcoming movie about The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio.    

Twain Quote

"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."

-Mark Twain


I like this quote because I think it has a lot of truth in it. Anger is a perfectly natural thing from time to time, but When people stay angry it eats them up. Anger shouldn't be held in because it will start to burn a person up like an acid. I know that when I get angry I cannot stay that way because it is a miserable way to live. Twain was cynical in his later years and usually cynical people become very angry with the world. I think this quote may have reflected personal experience for Twain along with people he may have observed that were consumed by anger. I also like the quote because when a person allows anger to eat away at them it starts turning into self pity and violence towards innocent people. 

What's Good

For many years I have been a fan of Pharrell Williams, who is a hip hop icon that has changed the world of music. He has worked independently and within groups such as the Neptunes and NERD. He also has several clothing lines. Williams hails from Virginia and went to high school with Chad Hugo who is his partner in the production group the Neptunes. The Neptunes were one of the most successful production groups in the 90s and 00s turning out over 20 Billboard top 10 hits and estimated to be worth over 140 million dollars. The term "Neptunes Sound" has been coined to describe Williams's and Hugo's unique style that generally uses synth riffs, keyboard samples, and modules. Williams has been nominated for 10 Grammy's and won 3. I enjoy a lot of his independent work for the distinct sound of his records. I also like William's group NERD for their rap, funk, and rock blend that only a musical genius like Pharrell could pull off.       

Civil Rights Story

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/04/vanderbilt-digital-archive-recovers-lost-civil-rights-voices/

The Article I chose was about how Vanderbilt University has recovered an archive of digital interviews by Robert Penn Warren of key Civil Rights Movement figures such as Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The original interviews were stored at Kentucky and Yale, but neither institution knew of each others collection until Mona Frederick at Vanderbilt started making the collection of Warren's works. The interviews along with their transcripts are now available via a Vanderbilt website. One of the most interesting interviews is of Malcolm X shortly before he was assassinated, and in fact Warren may have been the last interview Mr X made before his untimely death. The interviews add a more personal touch the vast volumes of data about The Civil Rights Movement. They allow people to hear the inspirational figures of the time and connect with them. It is good to see that there are people out there working to preserve this fascinating history.        

Harlem

Harlem was and is one of the most historically rich areas in the world. It is no wonder that the Delany sisters felt right at home on 145th and 7th. They were just a few blacks East of where some of Harlem's elite such as WEB DuBois  and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood  Marshall. The girls hung out at some of the most popular nightclubs in Harlem from time to time which were within walking distance from their apartment. The Schomburg Center is another neat place the Delany sister's lived by because it houses over 5,000,000 documents on Black History while being in the heart of a historically black place itself. Another interesting area is 135th and Lenox which is nicknamed the "Crossroads of the Black World" where the Delany sisters could have seen historic figures like Marcus Garvey standing on a soap box voicing their opinions.  

Having My Say: Asian Stigmas

I find some of the things people assume about those of Asian descent almost comical, but most of the time it is just annoying. Just because I'm Asian does not mean I want to do your math or that I'm even good at math (even though I am). Just because I'm Asian does not mean I like sushi (I hate it) or eat with chopsticks (I prefer a fork). Just because I'm Asian doesn't mean I know Karate (I'd rather use a fist than a Karate Chop to hit you for asking this question). The list goes on and on, and I try not to take things too seriously. However, the worst thing is that some people don't even realize they are generalizing the biggest continent on Earth. Asia does not equal China or Japan, in fact there are over 48 countries that comprise it. I don't see many people confusing Mexican and American culture and they actually border each other. Some people need to take a little time to learn a little about the world they live in so they don't sound retarded the next time they ask me a question about Asia or something pertaining to my heritage.

Expression in Art

I chose this picture because it shows a black women as a house servant in Georgia. She is helping the home owners child eat, and I think it is a powerful picture because it sums the role of the help. The Delany sisters' parents worked hard to keep their children from doing this job. This is because the occupation of servant is the opposite of the progress they fought hard to make for their children. It would be a slap in the face for the sisters to be servants when their parents provided such a good education. It is unfortunate that some black women of the period had no other choice than to be the help, but it was different for Sadie and Bessie so they strove to do the best at their professions.

There Was a Child That Went Forth

While reading this, several of the lines made me think of my own experiences. The flowery and foresty references reminded me of the park by my house and all the different times I've been through it admiring the scenery. The lines about the sea make me think of the times I've been in Florida, and the distinct sights and smells of being at the beach. I also connected with the "changes in country and cities" line because even though I'm only 16 I feel as though a lot has changed. I think Whitman was saying through this poem is that the experience you have in childhood become a part of you and shape your direction.

Dickinson Poem

Link to poem http://www.bartleby.com/113/2007.html

From Cacoon to a Butterfly is a rather long poem for Dickinson's style. I imagine since she used a journal style of writing poetry it must have been something she pondered for quite a while. The poem starts off comparing a women coming outside to a butterfly coming out of its cacoon. Being a recluse, Dickinson may have been refering to herself. However, I think the real meaning of the poem is about the use of things that are beautiful with out any aparent function like butterflies. I think Dickinson came to the conclusion that they brighten up tedious tasks and are a refreshing sight to laboring men and the bee. They break up the monotony of life and are therefore an essential part of the universe.

Affirmations on life

Turning a negative situation in to a positive is a difficult thing to do. I think it's an important life skill to handle defeat and be able to channel it into future success. One way to look at it defeat is that it is one way of not accomplishing the goal. Also, there is much to be learned from failure arguably more than through success because with success people often become complacent and put forth less effort, where as people with prior failures know they need to maintain their efforts in order to not return to failure. Every one has faced defeat or hardships in life at some point, and the importance lies not in the failure but rather how the person handles it. Support is another key factor because when a person is down its nice to know someone has his or her back whether it be friends, family, or God. Trying to move forward without help often leads to more failure. Therefore in any negative situation, learn from it, move on, and don't be afraid to reach out for help.    

Nature Connection

I had a connection with nature one time when I was in Laos. I was at a place where they let walk right up to the edge of a waterfall on rocks, and it was an extraordinary sensory experience. The water made a great deal of noise as it crashed on the rocks below, and the view of the surrounding area was great too. I felt very much at peace there despite being very high up. I wouldn't say the experience had a profound effect on me, but every time I revisit the place in my mind I get a feeling of peace. I don't know if I really found the truth in nature, but it was certainly a time I found peace in nature. 

Team Edgar

I chose Poe because I like the eerie, Gothic feel of his stories. Poe uses the ladder of suspense very well in both the Pit and Pendulum and the Fall of the House of Usher. In general, I find Poe's stories to be quicker and more enjoyable reads. I also prefer the short stories to the expanded novels of Hawthorne. Another thing that I find more interesting is Poe's life. He faced tons of challenges and hardships in his life. It undoubtedly contributed to his unique flavor of Gothic tales and yet another reason why Poe was my favorite.