Class Evaluation

Almost of the texts had an impact on me as a reader. I could see myself, a little bit, in each character. For example Craig in Blankets. I have dealt with growing up and sometimes feeling rejected and not being understood, as he did many times throughout his story. Another example is Janette in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. Parents and their children don't always understand each other. At one time or another, I have felt that my parents could never understand me. Each story impacted me a little differently. Maus, helped me understand why people are so ignorant sometimes. I was able to see Vladek and his actions in some of my family members. I consider them sometimes "crazy" when they act or think a certain way. But I am able to understand them a little bit better now.

When the class began reading these graphic texts, I was a little bit skeptical because I knew very little. After reading them I have a better appreciation. For example reading American Born Chinese and Blankets I had no idea that these stories would impact me. I was able to not only relate to these texts but also appreciate them a lot more. I never thought that these stories had depth or importance.  They are completely different from traditional texts which let you create your own imagery.  By looking at the graphics and the thickness of the lines or the boldness of the character's eyes, really help create the story. You are able to interpret it completely differently then you would a traditional text. I know realize that graphic texts are fun to read as well.

I enjoyed reading and interpreting all the texts that we read throughout the course. It was interesting to read and then chat about them the next class period. I always refer to these discussions as "a book club". I like hearing what others had to say and how they interpreted the different texts. Some of the classmates totally interpreted the text differently then I did, and it was interesting to hear their reasoning. It sometimes had an affect on my original interpretation as well. For example the graphic text, Maus, I could not understand why Art, the author, illustrated scenes the way he did. After listening to others interpretation, I was able to learn a lot. The texts were not extremely challenging to read, but some of the time they got a bit depressing which made it hard to get through. Overall, I enjoyed most of the texts that we read. I am able to really think deep about texts now and why the author decided to write how they did. I now am able to read literature differently and am really starting to think more critically about them. 

Boys and Self-Image: Looking in the Mirror

When people think of teenagers and body image, on most accounts we think of young girls and the issues with anorexia and bulimia. Yet in America's culture today the message of perfection is greater than ever. Our various forms of media such as television, magazines, and movies now have a larger affect on adolescent boys. In the graphic novels Blankets by Craig Thompson and American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, both authors struggle with experiences of their own self-image. Young boys go through the same issues of insecurities and physical self-perception as girls do during young adulthood.

How did boys become so involved with self-image deficiencies? According to Eric Shapiro, “Society dictates to kids from a very young age through constant subconscious marketing what it really means to be attractive, successful, or even happy,” (1). In Thompson’s graphic novel, we see Craig influenced through what he is exposed to as an adolescent child; “But it doesn’t have to be scary if you are a Christian and have asked Jesus into your heart; because when you die, you will go to heaven”(49). Craig, as a young boy, was told what was to be expected of him by his Sunday school teacher. He was not sold on the fact that he should be attractive or successful. Yet he was still being told how he should behave and act. If he did this, he would go to heaven and essentially reach. This is an example of adolescent boys today. Dr. Pauline Bergstein explains, "There are so many messages of what and how a person should be [in our society] that is can't but make the more vulnerable of us desperate to fight for and embrace external definitions of success and beauty" (Shapiro 2). Young adolescents are able to embrace their flaws and imitate what our society defines as perfection.

Adolescent boys are highly influenced by magazines and other idolized figures. We are seeing more of the "Barbie Syndrome” in boys, according to David L. Wheeler. This syndrome consists of unrealistic expectations of our bodies. Researchers are starting to find that the typical self-imaging that we see in young girls is now becoming more evident in adolescent boys as well. But instead of wanting to look like Ken and Barbie, adolescent boys are persuaded by G.I. Joe figures. "G.I. Joe Extreme, would have a biceps of 26 inches, which the researchers say is larger than that of any known body-builder,” explains Harrison Pope, doctor and researcher in the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory at Harvard University (Wheeler A22). There is a underlying message behind these "role models." Adolescent boys begin to believe looks only matter when it comes to achievements, such as making friends and earning respect from others.

Although pop culture and media are influences that are hard to ignore, we find school to be the most influential on self-image for adolescent boys. Boys today are talking about being teased on school grounds. “Oh! Oh, man, was I teased? Are you kidding? When I was fat, people must have gone home and thought of nothing else except coming up with new material the next day, says Alexander, a six-teen year old teenager” (Hall 32). It seems that adolescent teens are the major reason for insecurities in young boys. Jin, a young Asian boy, finally finds his first friend Peter, and as a result he is bullied more often. “He introduced himself to me at recess one day. Gimme yer sandwich and I’ll be your best friend. Otherwise I’ll kick your butt and make you eat my boogers”( Yang 34). Jin struggles in school to find a friend because he is different. We also see Thompson endure a similar situation in the halls of high school. “Haha Faggot! Nice hair! You look like a fucking girl”(Thompson 53). Craig gets attacked, by some peers, who he illustrates as having the "physical-image standards.” When Jin is bullied by a few students, he is teased based on the fact that he is Asian. “What the hell is that? Dumplings. Hmph. Stay away from my dog. Ha”(Yang 32). 

When you’re an adolescent, it can be hard to fit-in with social standards, and since Jin is different from other students he is the ideal target for bullies. Our “culture of cruelty” is not likely to defuse, which will, in turn, enable more adolescent boys to have more self-consciousness and concerns about their body/self image.

Young boys want to be seen as what society deems to be “masculine.” In the Journal of Adolescent Research, researcher Stephen Frost found that adolescent girls are able to talk more openly about looks and boys. While interviewing the young boys individually it appeared that they were more willing to speak of girls in a serious manner, along with they feared being called homosexual names, than they would in larger group interviews. "They talked more openly about their anxieties at home and praised girls more generally from being different from boys, being bullied at school, and not being able to discuss homework or hairstyles with other boys" (Bamberg 606). Danny deals with rejection from Melanie when she decides to be honest; “You know I’ve never noticed it before, but your teeth kind of buck out a little”(Yang 124). When Melanie rejects Danny, he finds himself alone and self-conscious. We see another example in the graphic novel Blankets, when Craig meets Raina's mother for the first time. "Craig! How WONDERFUL to finally meet you! I've heard so many great things, Raina practically RAVES about you!"(Thompson 210). Raina's mother was ecstatic to meet Craig, but Craig’s family knew very little about his new relationship. Craig was nervous to ask his mother for permission to see her. "Are you sure she's just a friend?" (Thompson 482). Craig’s mother does not know very much about their relationship, while Raina's mother knew almost everything.

As boys get older, their view on sexuality broadens, and they start to pay more attention to the superficial side of our cultural. Most importantly, they pay attention to what girls have to say. When Jin becomes a teenager, he is very self-concious about his date with Amelia, and has Wei-chen ask her about it. “How was your date with Jin? I actually had a lot of fun. Fun? How so? Was Jin Nice?..Funny?..Bubbly?”(Yang 176). 

Jin was freaking out about Amelia’s impression of him. Alexander explains his side, "When you hear girls qawking at Abercrombie and Fitch about how hot the guy is on the bag - that makes an impression. If I look this way, I've got my foot in the door" (Hall 62). Bare, hairless, ripped chests in advertisements have become a boy's cultural icon.

In a survey of 272,400 student’s USA WEEKEND researchers found that only 4 out of 10 students thought themselves to be attractive. 9 out of 10 boys wanted to tone up, while only 15 percent liked themselves "the way I am." More than half say they occasionally are "really depressed"; 1 in 5 often feel despondent. Yet 50% of boys participate in athletics. However, 78% of these athletes use supplements, even when they are well aware of the health risks that link to abusing them.

Boys are not far behind girls when it comes to doubting their self-image and esteem. Various forms of media and the pressures of society create adolescent insecurities. Throughout Craig Thompson's novel, there are several connections of insecurities that he has yet to overcome. As Shapiro writes, "If we are OK with who we are and what we want our of life, then no magazine advertisement can alter the true perceptions of ourselves.”

Works Cited

Case, Jeffrey. “Making American Boys: Boyology and the Feral Tale.” The Journal of American. Culture 27 Dec. (2004): 451-452.

Hall, Stephen S. “The Trouble Life of Boys; The Bully in the Mirror.” The New York Times 22. Aug. 1999: 4-10

Ramberg, Michael. “Journal of Adolescent Research." Sage. Sept (2006): 604-608.

Rhule, Patty. “Teens Tackle Their Identity Crisis.” USA Weekend 1 May 1998: 1-4

Shapiro, Eric. “Adolescent Males and the Media’s Influence on their Self-Image.” Men’s Health Network.

Thompson, Craig. Blankets. Canada: Top Shelf Productions, 2004.

 

Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. New York & London: First Second, 2006.

A Midsummer Night's Drean, Neil Gaiman's Interpretation

I enjoyed the interpretation that Neil Gaiman wrote. I thought it was really clever, it would have been hard to understand if I have never read Shakespeare's play beforehand. It was a bit confusing as times with distinguishing the characters as times with who was in the play and who was in the audience.

This is a graphic text about Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer's Night Dream, as if Shakespeare himself was promoting the play. He has actors, that also include his son Hamnet. Shakespeare is very distant and disconnected towards his son. Hamnet feels that his father cares more about his plays than he does about him. The audience are mythical creatures, from "the other realm," that play a huge role in the interpretation of the play. Oberion, Titania, and Puck, are being acted out in the play, but are audience members as well. 

Shakespeare and his son are important character's in this version of the play, as well as the audience that they perform in front of. The audience helps the reader understand what the play is about as it is acted out. The audience helped make the play more enjoyable and humorous. For example on pages 74-76 the audience members help each other explain what is happening throughout the play. "Hang on. So there's this love potion and he's goin' to make her majesty love something nasty...but where do the young mortals come into it? Don't you ever lissen? he's put the potion on wossame, Laysander right? now he;s going to fall in love with her, the skinny one"(74). This helps not only the audience member, but the reader to understand the play a lot better.. "All right. What's so funny about having a donkey's head? Eh? Eh? Go on, tell me what's go funny?"(76). The audience member is offended because he as well has a donkey head. This is an example of the humor that Gaiman uses in his interpretation. 

The Dream lord is an important character throughout the story. He is very distinctive. He seems much darker and when he speaks the text is white and the bubble his very different from the other characters. It was able to distinguish him when he was speaking. 

Shakespeare Debate

When Shakespeare's writing is interpreted into modern ways, we lose its original beauty and meaning(POETRY) and are unable to fully appreciate his work.  By taking his work for example and using Homer Simpson as Shakespeare character we are only insulting Shakespeare and his timeless work. 

PART II

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's classics. I want to take a look at the illustrations of the most tragic love seen, when Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves.

Pgs 182-184

Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.

I will kiss thy lips.

Some poison yet doth hang on them to, 

make me die.

Thy lips are warm

O happy dagger.

This is they sheath

There rust and let me die.  

I feel this scene that the author has illustrated is very engaging.  I feel this is very accurate and think the author did a good job choosing the right lines from Shakespeare's play.  He illustrations are appealing in a way that even if the reader has never read Romeo and Juliet before, they will be able to take a lot from these pages.  The author used important quotes which are still very famous today. I was able to get the same interpretation from the text and illustrations that I did, when I first read the play. 

PART III

I want to discuss Hermia's and Helena's relationship. There relationship first interested me in the beginning of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Throughout Shakespeare's play we find out that these two character's are completely different from each other. Helena wishes she could only be as fair a Hermia. Helena scorns/yells as Helena for taking Lysander love away from her. 

O me! You juggler, you cankerblossom,

You thief of love! What, have you come by night

And stol'n my love's heart from him

Modern Shakespeare Interpretation

This is an Apple Inc. ad that I found that was a modern take on Romeo and Juliet. 

A VIDEO CLIP OF BUGS BUNNY AND MACBETH:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=modern%20shakespeare&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iv#q=modern+shakespeare+cartoons&hl=en&emb=0

HERE IS AN ARTICLE I FOUND THAT HAS SHAKESPEARE WITH A TWIST...A HOMER SIMPSON TWIST!!!

Shakespeare meets 'The Simpsons'

By: Tara Maroney

Posted: 4/29/05

Shakespeare meets Homer Simpson on in "MacHomer," which will be performed twice at Jorgensen Auditorium Friday evening. 


The shows, at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. will bring the humor of "The Simpson's," to the tragedy of Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Rick Miller performs the entire show in an hour with the use of video projections to puppets. He impersonates each character on the popular show as a character in the play. 


"It may not be "art," but the TV show `The Simpsons' is extremely artistic, holding a satirical mirror up to society much like William Shakespeare's plays did to Elizabethan England," Miller said in a press release. 


According to www.machomer.com, the play remains 85 percent Shakespeare and the rest is Homer. The web site is full of video clips, games and sound bytes of the show. 


"I find it somewhat poetic that in Homer's hands, Macbeth's vaulting ambition ranges from wanting the throne to wanting a doughnut," Miller said. "There is always something vaguely tragic about the residents of Springfield: flawed, vulnerable, but ultimately noble in their own pathetic way." 


So how do these noble characters connect? Duncan, the King of Scotland, is Charles Montgomery Burns, Homer J. Simpson is of course MacHomer, with Marge being Lady MacHomer. Lisa is a Genlewom, Moe Szyslak is a witch and Krusty the Clown is a porter. Each Shakespearean character has its unique "Simpsons" match. 


Miller, the avid "The Simpsons" impersonator, has performed in three languages in three continents. He has performed his show throughout Scotland, England, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the United States and Canada. He has gotten a lot of praise for his outrageous performances. 


"This man is a comic juggernaut - Robin Williams with edge, or Jim Carrey with taste who carries the show to triumph. It's truly awesome. A One-Man Comic Tour-de-Force," the Toronto Star, wrote about Miller's performance. 


This is the show's eight year of tours. He has also written the solo shows "Art?" and "Slightly Bent" and is currently working on "Into the Ring" which is based on "Lord of the Rings." 


The show is meant to appeal to "The Simpsons" and Shakespeare fans alike. While the connection seems strange it may prove to be an humorous twist to Shakespeare classic.


The show is $15 for students and $25 for non-students and is being sponsored by Connecticut Repertory Theater. 

A Midsummer Night's Dream

HELENA

    Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. 
    Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair! 
    Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air 
    More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear, 
    When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. 
    Sickness is catching: O, were favour so, 
    Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; 
    My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, 
    My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. 
    Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, 
    The rest I'd give to be to you translated. 
    O, teach me how you look, and with what art 
    You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.

This is when we first meet Helena when she speaks about her heartbreak.  Helena loves Demetrius even though he is to marry Hermia.  She seems jealous in the fact that Hermia has both lovers and Demetrius does not love her back. Helena wishes she could be just as fair as Hermia. I found this part most insightful. We have all felt jealous and torn in love, one time or another. This is when you would do anything to be loved by the one you love, although he is in love with another women.  

Boys and Self-Image: Looking in the Mirror

When people think of teenagers and body image, on most accounts we think of young girls and the issues with anorexia and bulimia. Yet in America's culture today the message of perfection is greater than ever. Our various forms of media such as television, magazines, and movies now have a larger affect on adolescent boys. The graphic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson, is about the author’s experiences with his own self-image. Young boys go through the same issues of insecurities and physical self-perception as girls do during young adulthood.

How did boys become so involved with self-image deficiencies? According to Eric Shapiro, “Society dictates to kids from a very young age through constant subconscious marketing what it really means to be attractive, successful, or even happy,” (1).

Even in Thompson’s graphic novel we see Craig influenced through what he is exposed with as an adolescent child. “But it doesn’t have to be scary if you are a Christian and have asked Jesus into your heart; because when you die, you will go to heaven”(49). Craig as a young boy was told what to be expected of him by his Sunday school teacher. Dr. Pauline Bergstein explains, "There are so many messages of what and how a person should be [in our society] that is can't but make the more vulnerable of us desperate to fight for and embrace external definitions of success and beauty" (Shapiro 2). Young adolescents are able to embrace their flaws and imitate what our society defines perfection.

Adolescent boys are highly influenced by magazines and other idolized figures. We are seeing more of the “Barbie Syndrome” in boys according to David L. Wheeler. This syndrome consists of unrealistic expectations of our bodies. Researchers are starting find that the typical self-imaging that we see in young girls are now becoming more evident in adolescent boys as well. But instead of wanting to look like Ken and Barbie, adolescent boys are persuaded by G.I. Joe figures. “G.I. Joe Extreme, would have a biceps of 26 inches, which the researchers say is larger than that of any known body-builder,” explains Harrison Pope, doctor and researcher in the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory at Harvard University (Wheeler, A22). There is a message in these "role models" that adolescent boys begin to believe looks only matter when is comes to achievements such as making friends and earning respect from others.

Although pop culture and media are influences that are hard to ignore, we find school to be the most influential on self-image for adolescent boys. Boys today are talking about still being teased on school grounds. “Oh! Oh, man, was I teased? Are you kidding? When I was fat, people must have gone home and through of nothing else except coming up new material the next day, says Alexander, a six-teen year old teenager” (Hall 32). It seems that adolescent teens are the major reason for insecurities in the young boys. We also see Thompson endure a similar situation during the hall of high school. “Haha Faggot! Nice hair! You look like a fucking girl”(Thompson 53). Craig gets attacked by some peers who he illustrated them to have the “physical-image standards.” Our “culture of cruelty” will unlikely defuse which will, in turn, enable more adolescent boys to have more self-consciousness and concerns about their body/self image.

Young boys want to be seen as what our society thinks masculinity is. In the Journal of Adolescent Research, researcher, Stephen Frost found that adolescent girls are able to talk more openly about looks and boys. While speaking to the young boys in individual interviews, they were more likely to speak of girls more seriously and how they fear being called homosexual names, then they would in larger group interviews. "They talked more openly about their anxieties at home and praised girls more generally from being different from boys, being bullied at school, and not being able to discuss homework or hairstyles with other boys" (Bamberg 606). We see this as an example in the character Craig, in the graphic novel Blankets, when he meets Raina's mother for the first time. "Craig! How WONDERFUL to finally meet you! I've heard so many great things, Raina practically RAVES about you!"(Thompson 210). Raina's mother was ecstatic to meet Craig, but the Thompson family knew very little about Craig's new relationship. Craig was nervous to ask his mother for permission to see her. "Are you sure she's just a friend?" (Thompson 482). Mrs. Thompson does not know very much about their relationship, were Raina's mother knew almost everything.

As boys get older, their view on sexuality broadens, and they start to pay more attention on the more superficial side of our cultural as they grow into their own sexuality. Most importantly they pay attention to what girls have to say. Alexander explains, "When you hear girls qawking at Abercrombie and Fitch about how hot the guy is on the bag - that makes an impression. If I look this way, I've got my foot in the door" (Hall 62). Bare, hairless, ripped chests in advertisements, have become a boy's cultural icon.

Here are the facts: In a survey of 272,400 student USA WEEKEND researchers found the only 4 out of 10 students found themselves attractive. 9 out of 10 boys wanted to tone up, while only 15 percent liked themselves "the way I am." More then half say they occasionally are "really depressed"; 1 in 5 often feel despondent. Yet 50% of boys participate in athletics. Yet 78% of these athletes use supplements, even when they all agreed to be well aware of the health risks while linked when using them.

Boys are not far behind girls when it comes to doubting their self-image and esteem. Various forms of media and society beliefs help form the path of adolescent insecurities. Throughout Craig Thompson's novel, there are several connections of insecurities that he has to overcome. As Shapiro writes, "If we are OK with who we are and what we want our of life, then no magazine advertisement can alter the true perceptions of ourselves."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Case, Jeffrey. “Making American Boys: Boyology and the Feral Tale.” The Journal of American           Culture 27 Dec. (2004): 451-452.

Hall, Stephen S. “The Trouble Life of Boys; The Bully in the Mirror.” The New York Times 22             Aug. 1999: 4-10

Ramberg, Michael. “Journal of Adolescent Research." Sage. Sept (2006): 604-608.

Rhule, Patty. “Teens Tackle Their Identity Crisis.” USA Weekend 1 May 1998: 1-4

Shapiro, Eric. “Adolescent Males and the Media’s Influence on their Self-Image.” Men’s Health Network.

Thompson, Craig. Blankets. Canada: Top Shelf Productions, 2004.

FINALIZED Research Paper Thesis

The graphic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson, is about the author’s experiences with his own self-image.  Young boys go through the same issues of appearance and physical self-perceptions such as girls do, during young adulthood.

Maus II

Pages 98-99

I found it very interesting how Vladek was being racist towards a colored person.  Art's fiance argues with Vladek when he speaks poorly of a black man.  "A hitch-hiker? and-oy-it's a colored guy, a shvartser.  Push quick on the gas!" "That's outrageous! How can you, of all people be such a racist! You talk about black the way way the nazis talked about Jews"(98-99).  WHile listening to Vladek's story, it would be very surprising to watch him act out on a person because of the color of his or her skin.  It it very hypocritical of him to act this way.

Pages 43-47

The panels on pages 43-47, I believe, are very important to Art's story.  The graphic in these panels are very important.  Both Pavel and Art are wearing masks in these pages and Art seems to be smaller then Pavel, almost as he was a kid.  "Maybe your father needed to show that he always right-that he could always SURVIVE- because he felt GUILTY about surviving"(45). We are able to understand Vladek a little better after listening to Pavel and his reasonings.  I like how Pavel supports Vladek for his way of living.  

Research Paper Thesis

The graphic text Blankets by Craig Thompson, is about the author’s experiences of his own self-image.  Young boys go through the same issues of self-acceptance as young girls do, when they start becoming of age.

Maus I

Vladek rejects Ilzecki's invitation to hide his son for the time being, so he would be safe for the time being.  "I have a good friend, a pole, who;s willing to hide my son until the situation gets better.  I think he would take your boy too"(81).  I wonder why he decided to make such a risky decision?  I believe that Vladek wanted to keep his family together, yet does he now regret his decision.  Vladek explains that his first son did not survive during the war. "I'll never give up my baby. NEVER! Ilzecki and his didn't come out from the war...but his son remained alive; ours did not"(81).   He speaks very little of him and has no compassion for his son's death.  He spoke as is was just something that happened, with little to no affect. I would have like Art to speak more in detail about his father's first son.

Research Paper Ideas

I thought the self-image multi-genre project was very interesting.  I think that the multi-genre project would be fun to do.  It it not your traditional paper, it gives you more of a chance to explore and research in a fun way.

I know I may want to focus on "Blankets."  There are so many options and discussions that I will be able to pull out of the text.  I am not sure what I want my main focus to be.  I have done a lot of research on self image, I may want to go with that.  

Different options I may want to choose from Blankets other then self-image maybe relationships or adolescence. 

Blankets

In this this discussion I am going to talk about the panels on pages 13, 62-64.

When going through the reading I marked these pages because, for me, it showed great significance between Hell and the cubby hole.   The panel I am going to discuss is page 13 in the very beginning of the book. 

In the beginning of the story when Craig and his bother are being disruptive during the night.   Craig's father puts Phil into the cubby hole to sleep that night.  It surprises me how Phil was chosen to sleep in the cubby hole and not Craig.  I would think that since Craig is the oldest and should be more responsible he would be the chosen one for the cubby hole.  

In the imagery Craig's father is large and very over powering.  When Craig and Phil discuss the foot steps of this father and the imagery of them being scared.  He seems to be a strict enforcer as they seem to find him as the most the scariest person in their life.  This shows how frightened Craig and Phil are of their father.  I was interested how the author illustrated his father.  He looks vicious and mean.  It would not be a person I would want to grow up around of have my father be.  

On pages 62-64, Craig relates to the cubby hole to Hell.  When his Sunday school teacher was lecturing about Hell, images of the cubby hole came to him.  "But worst of all you can't find these people. You're separated forever.  And you can hear them...but you can't TALK to them...or COMMUNICATE...or CONSOLE each other in your pain."(62-64).  I believe that this is a very significant panel for the story. He was reminded of the cubby hole that his father induced both him and his brother in, when being bad.

I think this shows how terrible that the cubby hole was for them.  A child being locked him, with no communication or no way out.  This could almost possibly be the most terrible punishment a child could go through.  As a child I could definitely see how this could be related as Hell to them.  It also shows how dysfunctional his childhood would be.

I wanted to discuss the relationship that Craig had with himself.  It is very clear to see that Craig did not have an easy time growing up or in high school.  Not only did he feel pressure from his father but classmates and teachers as well.  As if being picked on was not hard enough he was unable to understand himself.  He considered life "worthless" and "unbearable."  When reading through the story I felt terribly sorry for him.  

Craig went through life day by day very unsure and unhappy of himself.  He tried his best and was unable to stick up for himself.  Not only is growing up hard enough, life can be harder with no self-esteem.  I believe he stays in this mind set until he meets Raina.  She was able to show him that he we indeed important and loved.  She was a life saver for him.  When he visits her family they are very open with him.  He received more comfort from her family in 20 minutes then he did throughout his entire childhood.  Riana is a significant person in his life will make him see how special he is.

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Passage

"I loved God and I love church, but I began to see that as more and more complicated.  It didn't help that I had no intention of becoming a missionary"(128).

The reason for choosing this passage was very obvious to me.  As a reader, I predicted that once Jeanette was of an older age she would see life differently then her mother and she did.  It is not that she did not love God and church, because she did.  She just saw life differently then from the others that belonged to her church.  

Being a member of her church was difficult for her because she was so different.  It was getting too complicated for her in the fact that everyone considered a demon child.  It was getting harder for her to keep hiding her secret.  She did not believe that she belonged with the church although she loved God very much.

She was a servant of God.  She loved him deeply.  This is why she had no problem joining the church functions.  Her mother considers her a sinner.  But she realizes that all servants of God are sinners.  You can sin and God will forgive you for all of them.  This is why she feels that the church was getting too complicated for her.  She knew that she was different and it was not the devil, it was just the way she felt.  She had no problem following through with her own emotions.  For a reader this is when I first consider Jeanette and strong person.

She does not think or believe the was the rest of the church does.  She believes in God and forever hold their relationship close to her heart.  As I predicted should did one day would feel differently from the others of her church.

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

***A bildungsroman (IPA: [ˈbɪldʊŋs.roˌmaːn]; German: "novel of formation") is a novelistic genre that arose during the German Enlightenment, in which the author presents the psychological, moral and social shaping of the personality of a (usually young) protagonist.

1. Belief is a strong word for me to use.  I have entered my second year of college and I have met people who do not believe in a higher power...'god'.  As I listen their points, which are very valid, I am most utterly confused in what to believe.  Being brought up as a Christian and discussing with my fellow peers, it is hard to say what I believe in.  There is something out there, it may be a god or my not, but for now that is all I am able to comprehend.

2. Family, friends, and peers have all changed my perspective on belief.  I will always take the time to discuss their ideas and beliefs.  I feel as the older I get there will be more ideas that come to me I will have a clearer belief system.  I am still young and there are many belief systems out there.  I feel that one day I will have a better idea on my belief system.

3. Last year, when some good friends and I had a discussion about god and how there may or may not be one.  I felt a little scared because they said "the world was going to end in a few years."  That was the first time other extreme beliefs came to my attention.  

4. Jeanette's mother is a very strict believer.  "You have been talking about Hell to young minds"(42).  Jeanette has being speaking her beliefs about god to her classmates and have caused them to have nightmares.  As her teacher wrote home to her mother about the situation, Jeanette's mother praises her by taking her out to the movies. Her mother is a strong believer about god.  She has jammed the bible into Jeanette.  I feel that her mother is not taking the right responsibilities for her daughter's actions.  It is OK to believe in what she does, but intensely protesting to her classmates is a little over the top.

5. I feel that as she gets older she will change her beliefs about men, women, god, and life.  She asks questions and does not seem to get all the answers.  I feel she will face other struggles with her beliefs and am excited to see what happens.  She has already changed her beliefs about men.  She refers them as "beasts."

6. She is growing up and facing more struggles as she grows.  She is starting to argue more with her mother.  Her beliefs about men have already changed and will keep changing as she grows.  She now has a friend and is becoming more accepting of herself.  I can not wait to see what happens later in the book for her.  

Cultural Criticism

Race, gender, and culture are important to discuss because we deal with real life issues everyday.  No matter who you are of what privileges you have there is going to be a minority group.  I feel that our society is developed around "patriarchy."  We live in a world of one group is better than the another.  Our society is developed by roots of certain beliefs and is going to be hard to change the minds of the people who created them.  

It is important to learn about other cultures, races, and genders.  The writer wants you to understand what they went through to feel their emotions.  We can actually feel what the character is going through and understand their struggles only by learning about what they went through.  We will a better understanding of our world.  No single person can change the beliefs of patriarchy.  We have to keep encouraging change. 

Being critical about these different issues opens many large and long discussions.  We can talk about each others interpretations of the literature and everyone will hopefully get something positive about it.  Even if you a strong minded and unwilling to change your beliefs about certain racism of sexism.   

14. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.

- You can protect your children from everything.  Of course you should protect them if their life is in danger.  But no matter who you are, you are going to be picked on once in your life.  Being different makes us who we are.  I need to create a back bone.  It will help you understand that there are people who are not going to like you for who you are.  You need realize that its ok.  Although harassment is know very well in school around the country.  If your children is distressed from their peers protection is in order.  These not only include physically but also emotional well being.

24. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to the "person in charge", I will be facing a person of my race

- I do not agree with this comment.  It does not matter what color or gender you are.  How good are you at your job?  If you work hard and are good at what you do, you will come out on top.  

What are multimodality, multisemiotics and multiliteracies?

Multimodality, multisemiotics, and multiliteracies are all ways we understand material when learning information. These three terms are all apart of learning. They serve all types of communication in which we are able to understand. They are an important purposes when learning material. Each interprets material in a better sense of understanding.

Multimodal consists of our five senses.  Which is pretty easy to understand because we encounter these senses- smell, see, hear, touch, taste, everyday.  Multisemiotics describes multiple meanings that are offered by these modes, and multiple possible understandings that we might be able to make from these modes.  While multiliteracies is when people are able to understand and use these modes to communicate to everyday life.  To break it down, they are modes in which we use for communication.

McCloud is able to use many of these multimodal literacy's in his graphic novel.  First off, he uses audio literacy, which makes many sounds with vivid words such as "DING-DING."  He is able to make all of these sound effects.  The reader is able to hear the sounds of what McCloud is trying to describe.

McCloud's use of linguistic literacy is in many words to describe his novel.  Gestural literacy is used in McCloud's graphic novel with different uses of behavior.  While he uses spatial literacy to help the reader connect to his novel.  By using his comics the reader is easily able to understand where he is going with his graphic novel.  I believe the reader is able to understand all his multimodal literacy.  

By using these three modes, communication and understanding of all will be better.  In the classroom, by seeing the text, a visual on the board, and communication through the teacher there will be a better understanding of the information.  I find that these modes of communication would be useful to me, especially because just reading the text would not be enough information to understand the material given. 

World Society for the Protection of Animals

Bronco my Teacup Yorkie

Poem For Monday

Annabel Lee by: Edgar Allen Poe

It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of Annabel Lee; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me. I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea; But we loved with a love that was more than love- I and my Annabel Lee; With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven Coveted her and me. And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsman came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea. The angels, not half so happy in heaven, Went envying her and me- Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we- Of many far wiser than we- And neither the angels in Heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee. For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride, In the sepulchre there by the sea, In her tomb by the side of the sea.