Wednesday, April 28, 2010

My Last Blog!

I've enjoyed this class...and have learn new perspectives and ways to view literature.
I have enjoyed many of the class discussions, and enjoyed getting to know classmates, through class as well as through their blogs.
I will miss this class but like some of the other classmates have said I'm so ready for SUMMER!!!
I realized I never got around to posting the definition of Female Archetype on my blog.
So here it is :)
An Archetype is a model of behaviour or pattern of energy that is easily recognisable and resonant to human beings. We can identify with and relate to archetypes as they are primary characters or personalities of the human condition.

Archetypes are everywhere. They are played out in fairy tales, movies, books, TV shows, in our families, our work environments and amongst our friends.

Snow white (Princess) is an archetype, Homer Simpson (Fool) is an archetype... so is Mother, Father, Son and Daughter. We instantly recognise what these roles are and how they are supposed to behave .
Thought I'd Post the Notes from Class that I helped me on the test...I never got around to posting these.......
#1) Who is Arnold Friend?
a]The Devil
b]The Demon Lover
c]The imagination
d] all of the above (AND ALL THAT!) <----

#2) Grimm vs. Perrault
-Grimm's version is more 'grim' and 'grotesque', and ends in a happily ever after.
-Perrault's version is safely written, and ends in a MORAL

#3) Know the definition of grotesque, or the idea of it...

#4) What is the difference between the edning of "Smooth Tallk" and "Where are you going? Where have you been?"
-Smooth Talk ends with Connie coming back, where as in the story, the reader is left to interperet what actually happened to her.

#5) What's the difference between the woman in The Demon Lover and Connie?
-The woman is a wife and a mother, and Connie is not. The woman, technically, had more to lose.

#6) Archetype?
-An image or pattern that is repeated in literature and fantasy.

#7) Who did Joyce Carrol Oates SAY she dedicated her story to?
-Bob Dylan, for his song "Its All Over Now Baby Blue".

#8) Why did Lot's wife get turned into a pillar of salt?
-she looked back at the destruction of Sodom and Gamorrah, when she was told not to.

#9) Tell the truth, but tell it at a slant. Who said it?
-Emily Dickenson

#10) "Because I could not stop for Death. . . " ?
-"... he kindly stopped for me."

#11) Slanting rays of the setting sun. . .
-Alyoesha's memory of his mother.

#12) Karamozov Curse?
-Sensuality
I realized I never posted the Found Poem I reworked that was on the door:
Lights Lights,
Turn off,
Garbage Garbage,
Pick up,
Desks Desk,
Put Back,
Leave Leave,
Please
The arguement Between Men and Women! What a pointless disagreement to have...its an never ending war of words. The other doesn't know what it's like to walk in the others shoes, and they never seem to stop with the constant battle of words.

My friend is getting married in July, and I am going to the wedding to support her, but what I don't support is there marriage. Besides the fact of being right out of college they are in constant bicker about who does what. She will get on him that he doesn't know what its like to go to class, clean the house and attempt to cook dinner. And he tells her that she doesn't know what its like to be a student, attempt to work a part-time job and play massive amounts of Halo.

When we were discussing this in class, this couple came to mind. Neither side is going to win, they just need to give up and except the other for the bum he really is.

Its a Constant Repeat.

I liked the South Park clip, the presenter picked to present on Monday. This just proved that every story is a retelling of another. Almost I thought it was cool to tie some modern day pop culture into a retelling of a greek story. I thought it was gross that Carman cut up that kids parents and made him eat them in chili! I watch Family Guy all the time, and watching now after taking this class, I've noticed that alot of plots are stolen from stories of the past.

Even the movie the Notebook is a retelling, of the Psyche and Eros story. The whole idea of wanting each other, but not being able to have each other. Psyche couldn't look at Eros, and than she did and lost him and regained him . The Notebook has the similar plot where they wanted to be together, and than they lost love and regained in the end.

BK Brothers

I've been putting off writing about the Brothers K because well its a whole lot of book, and I didn't even know what direction I wanted my blog to go in. I decided I want to focus this blog on Grushenka.

Grushenka was one of my favorite characters in the book because she took charge of the situation and for once wasn't the female in distress. I hate how so many book portray women as victims of situations caused by other male characters in the story.

Grushenka not only was desired by two of the main male characters in the brothers K, and would have received a nice chunk of change if she would have pursued Father K. She decided to leave him to go be with an old flame, who wanted to get back with her. She took charge of the situation and left Dmirti and Father K. and for that I really admire her. She prove not only to be strong but also to be far from a gold digger!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Psyche And Eros


Like I said from the start, I was slacking on writing the blogs! So way back when, like Feb. we had a discussion about Psyche and Eros,and it ranks right up there with one of my favorite stories we discusses all class.
Venus is jealous of psyche's beauty which is just like the evil queen in snow white, or Ursula from little mermaid.
Venus sends her son Eros, to shoot an arrow at her but Eros sees her and falls in love with her instead. Venus is outraged when she finds out. Eros than comes and stays with her every night, and Psyche becomes so curious to her lover is, she decides to go against Eros wishes, and look at him. He than flies away, Psyche is devasted by this. She was also carrying his child at the time. She then goes and talks to Venus who makes her do three crazy things ( because three is the magical number in stories). The last thing is go down to Perphone and get some of her beauty cream, and bring it to her but she is told not to open the box! Of coarse she opens the box, and gets put in a deep sleep. Eros flies down and wakes her. And Psyche and Eros live happily ever after! What a beautiful story! One of my favorites!

Group Presentation

I was reading some classmates blogs about "Group One" Presentation, and I am proud to say that I was part of that group. Our group arguement was about how there are no boring books just boring people. I do regret that our group did get off topic, due to so much class participation. We were given stances that we had to debate and didn't ever get a chance to share our real views on the matter. I feel like yes there are many boring people other!

But there are so many boring books, like my Biology book for starters! I feel like the book and person do go hand in hand, and one can't find the other interesting if the other doesn't. I think people find books interesting,on subjects that interest them. That's my opinion that neither books nor people are boring,a person will find a book interesting if its of an area that interests them.

Grimm Bros.

Whom would have thought that sister uglies would have lost part of their feet, in Cinderella. I can see how the Grimm Brothers live up to their names.:) I love how as children you grow up thinking that Cinderella is a pretty princess story with a happily ever after, and the most violent thing is the cat trying to eat the mice.

I never knew that there was version of Cinderella even written by the Grimm Brothers, But I find it interesting how they have the sisters try on the slipper get their foot by cutting off their toes, to get the shoe to fit just right. Or their heel to be able to win a spot in court with a marriage to the prince.

The Little Red Riding Hood I was told was the sweet version with the little girl going to her grandmothers, meets up with the wolf who diverts her from the path she needs to take, beats her to grandmothers house. The Wolf than eats grandma, and Little Red Riding Hood. But the detail in the Grimm Brothers books was quite grotesque, the hunter who saves Little Red and her grandma in the Grimm Book cuts the wolfs stomach open with scissors and than fills his stomach with rocks causing him to than drop dead.
Another one of my favorite concepts that we discussed in class was Movies verus Books. In the movie Smooth Talk that was based on Where are you Going Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates, the plot of the movie completely took away any imagination the viewer might be left with to what happens to Connie. The movie added extra drama to parts, that didn't need it, and also showed Connie coming back from Arnold Friend's visit, which in the book left you with much suspense. I didn't like how the movie changed so much around which isn't uncommon you see it all the time with big movies like Twlight, and Harry Potter just to name a few.
With the Harry Potter Movies series compared to the books it was one big let down. Reading invokes the imagination, something movies and television doesn't trigger, or allow you to do so.

Books are always better than movies, some might argue that, and i say, that I would have been one of those people prior coming into this class. With taking this class,I learned that reading is a great way to gain experiences. Like the professor said, he has a friend who travels all over the world,Professor reads books about books about the places his friend has gone, and feels that he has the better experience than his friend has.

Wheres the Originality GONE?

Every story is a retelling of another story, I never really paid attention before this class. I was bummed out to learn that Disney’s The Lion King was not an original masterpiece like all the hype said when the movie first came out. The Lion King is just another retelling of Hamlet. The death of the King, and a take over of another family member. In both instances Hamlet,and Simba both don’t like the family member whom now reins the crown and have it in for the king.

Staying with the Disney topic, majority of the Disney stories are all the same princess in distress looking for a charming prince to save me, and live happily ever after. I can think a few that aren't that way like the Jungle Book, where the plot is the little boy running around lost in the jungle with the loin cloth, and alice in wonderland.

Characters aren’t original anymore either. Dmirti and Don Quiantro are similar characters in the literature world. Both Dmirti and Don Quiantro are keep charging off, and are also on missions/ quests. Dmirti is trying to kill his father, and Don Quiante is another world of mental state, and before you know it hes battling wind mills, in an attempt to rescue his love interest.
Another concept that i really enjoyed listening to was the ignoring authority figures. When Icarus ignored his father's instruction of flying with his wax wings about the sun. He told him he could fly low, but not get to close to the sun for his wings would melt. So what did his son do, didn't honor his fathers wishes, and flew directly towards the sun, and than hes wings began to melt. Icarus ended up losing his wings and crashing into the earth. If he would have only listened to the wiser character.

Lots wife whom was warned by angels to leave Solmon and take refunge far away. Her family was leaving, the town and she was told not to look back at the town. And she turned and looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.


We all have done things that disobeyed an authority, I know I've done things my mom said not to, i think that's part of growing up. My parents were really strict on me about boys driving me school. And there was this one boy a grade older than me that my parents just hated, and he offered one day to start driving me to school. Obviously riding to school with an upper class men was way better than the bus! So I agreed to ride with him, but the thing was I had to pull a fast one, on mom. So I told her I was going to the bus stop and rushed out of the house, I had told this boy to park a little ways away from my house. But sure enough my mom had a suspicion about me, and was watching the whole thing through the blinds of the kitchen window. When I got home that day I got to hear all about it. She was wise because that boy did end up totally in his car, soon after. He wasn't hurt but he wasn't the safest driver to be riding with either.

Mid Term

Arnold Friend lives in every good story, he’s hidden within the pages, waiting to pounce when the time comes. Mr. Friend has many predominate roles; many ask what does this man look like? After much research on Arnold, I have come to the conclusion that the nickname “Chameleon of the Stories” is best fitting for his from his morphing persona. Arnold Friend aids in our journey from the beginning of the novel, till the turning of the last page. Everyone benefit from the guidance from Arnold Friend.
Arnold Friend, is not just a persona that only resides in the world of literature, he’s also a constant figure who dwells in our daily life as well. In both realms his characteristics remain the same, to pushes us towards change, when he sees it needed. There’s a variety of instances where you might expect a visit from A. Friend: if you’re a boring person and need to get out of your shell, make us reached for something we’ve never experienced and A. Friend might as make an appearance if the story just needs some more well spice. Two modern day Arnolds that came to mind, would be President Barrack Obama, and everybody’s favorite conservative Fox New show host, Mr. Bill O’Reilly.
President Obama, brought a wave of change, to America. Speaking, of promises for his future plans during the campaign trail in 2008. Americans had never heard talks of changes like this before, so many of us got caught up in his charisma and voted to have a new government experience. Obama even won the Nobel Peace Prize for all his talks of changes he would when elected as President of the United States. He has help to bring change to America for this he is an example of an Arnold Friend.
The spin stops here, Bill O’Reilly is an American Patriot who is seen as an Arnold Friend by a completely different audience of the American People. His show The Factor airs on Monday thru Friday basis, and Bill goes on and tells the American people what is happening in our country. He gives the American people the breaking news, but lets them decide what they are doing to do with that information. He prompts change of getting our country back together, and also with his help and Fox News there has been a change in the demographic of the voters in this country. The Tea Party group is something none of us have ever seen in our life time, and due to the drastic change in the government and the involvement of Bill O’Reilly and other conservative figures, Bill is helping change America with giving American a chance to be heard in Washington! Bill has been my Arnold Friend by introducing me to a broader worldview.
Arnold in the storybook is much easier to point out, he’s not as hidden as in real life. In the story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates”, a young girl Connie, has meeting with Mr. Friend, at the diner, and he tells her, “ I’m going to get you baby.” Connie didn’t think much of it at the time, and goes on with her drab daily life as a teenager. Life takes an unexpected turn when Mr. Friend makes a house call to her home when her parents are gone. She gets in the car with him and they drive away. Many after reading this would say this guy belongs on America Most Wanted, but after reading into it, maybe Connie needed him to make that house call. She needed someone to help her with that jump from adolescence years to woman hood. And Arnold was the first one would put out his hand to help her with her change into that territory.

Mr. Friend makes great impacts on your decisions with out you even noticing. I feel like I might be in the same boat as Connie, I was impacted by Arnold in my teens. I’m a Wisconsin Girl, and I meet this older boy Josh, and he moved out to Montana, Bozeman to be exact. And he had something alluring about him, and from the moment I met him I wanted to go college here. He must have worked his magic pretty good because I am still going to school here. Arnold and teenage girls, go together because at that age, teen girl aren’t always the most clear-headed, and Arnold’s know how to take that in their favor. At the time, you don’t realize that your in the midst of Arnold and his plan, but looking back on it, its clearer than day.

Mr. Friend character exists not just in fairytale but also in real life as well. Arnold pushes us towards change in our lives, which he sees needed. Bill O’Reilly and Barrack Obama are two figures that I see as modern day Arnolds, with the mass group they communicate with strong influence for change they have on others. Arnold might just be that familiar face you see walking down the street, you don’t know what kind of mischief he has in store for you.
Okay so i dont feel quite as bad now...i didn't see the button to go to the older blogs...and i actually had like 26 posted already..so that means only a few more to go! :)
I really enjoyed this class and that all im going to say because the professor said yesterday that he at the age where praises and insults now longer affect him. Plus no one likes suck ups anyways. But i really did enjoy the discuss that we had on the stories, not so much when the class got completely side tracked. A few of the discussions are going to now be applied to my life. The quote, " How do I know what I think til I see what I say." I am going to use that in my day to day problem solving.

Or how every story is a retelling of another, which plots can apply to daily life. When one of my friends comes to me with a problem i can apply the knowledge I've learn from the stories, to the story my friend is telling me, to help come up with the best solution.

Life is One Big Sorrow

Like I said in my previous Blog, I'm playing caught up here, and I know we had a discussion that caught my interest in class about how life is nothing but one big sorrow after another. I beg to differ, I think life is full of joy. I think those who think its a Sorrow, are viewing it in a negative light. My mom had three strokes and was hospitalize for 8 weeks in intensive care unit, but than had miraclecous recovery. I do agree there is a lot of sorrow in the world. But with every great sorrow there is a great joy to follow. With my mom as an example, yes she was very sick, but than she recovered from her strokes which was a great joy.

I just think people are to fast to notice all the negative things, than to look around and see all the positive things happening around you as well. Even the media, seems to focus in on the negative stories, instead of positive events happening.

time to play catch up

Man i wish i would have stayed up on my blogs better..i thought i had aleast 20, turns out im at about 10!

I'm happy that my paper&presentation ended up going as well as it did. I was kind of nervous but i think i know how to work a crowd when given a chance! plus who doesn't love a presentations with Bill O'Reilly!
I feel like Arnold Friend was a important character to write about in my mid term because after all the character we have discussed in class, he has to be my favorite. We all can relate to an Arnold Friend that has come in or out of our lives and that part of the wonder of his character.
And we all can relate to Connie being that naive teen girl who thinks she can trust the world. Maybe these two characters go hand in hand. They work off of each other, mind sets.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Our group has our presentation today :) Well see how it goes, we are going to do a debat style presentation. Each of us have a different arguement that we are going to take on each other. Mine is Why watching television is better than reading a book. And thats all I'm going to say because I want to keep you in suspense til class!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

We've suppose to blog about if we could ever or even want to step into the shoes of one of our enemeies. I would never want to walk in her shoes yet, alone put them on. I'm happy to be myself and wouldn't want be anyone else. I would not want to be seen as mean by my peers, nor have the strong hatred that she holds in her heart for people. I would never want to be that type of girl like my enemey whom holds grudges and hatred for unexplainable reasons. I feel like there gets to be a point when you need to stop wanting to be someone else and just embrace yourself.

John's I pad made me want one, so I went to the book store and checked it. They have them on display at the bookstore. They are pretty cool but there something special about being able to hold and turn pages of book.