In-class writing number 12

In the four videos we watched in class they discussed how everything is essentially a remix of something else.  I already figured that was true with media, I mean I even have a song on my ipod called the four chord song where they take the basic melody from Don't Stop Believing by Journey and put it to other songs which fit perfectly.  It's also obvious that the media copies ideas because movies lately are either from books, sequels, prequels, or have the same basic plot as another movie out there.  I've heard a lot about how the movie Avatar is a lot like Pocahontas, though I did not realize this until I watched it after someone had made that connection.  I did not realize that so much technology was copied from other ideas.  I also think it's kind of hypocritical for someone who stole other peoples ideas to get mad when their ideas get taken.  Looking back in some way evolution is  kind of the same way.  We are remixes of different creatures that we evolved from.  So in a way there isn't really a single thing on this planet that would have existed without something else being there first, wether it be technology being advanced, music being re-mixed, movies being redone, or creatures evolving.  

In class writing #6

My political views aren't to one side or the other.  I basically listen to both of the platforms and go with who I think will screw up the least.  Because I'm neither left or right, seeing ad's all over the place that raise up one candidate and put the other one down really annoys me.  My mom and I had a conversation about this exact thing once with a good example, The ad was smearing Romney and his tax cuts.  I believe the same thing she does which is don't go by what the ads say instead go by the record of the candidate.

Body paragraph #3 (In-class writing 5)

One thing I liked about "Smash" are the costumes.  The costumes for their musical looked like the clothes people wore in the 1950's.  Karen in her Marylin outfit seemed most realistic.  She looked just like Marylin does in any picture she's been in.  The Smash cast also did a good job dressing like regular people as opposed to the weird styles that is the Hollywood norm.

In-Class Prompt #3

Last Thursday we watched How I Met Your Mother in class.  The episode was one that flashed back and forward where the guys talked talked about where they would be in three years.  As the flash backs got more current, their future plans changed a lot.  The only things that stayed consistent throughout the flashbacks are Ted and Marshall's jobs, their trilogy nights, and the fact that they are all close.  Between the previous discussions and the one that happened in 2012,  Barney's plans had changed.  Instead of him just having a new woman everytime, he realizes he is ready to settle down and get married.  This being a huge realization for him, he runs home, apologizes to his girlfriend, and shows that he is ready for a committed relationship by breaking his mugs (the thing that started the argument between them).  I've never noticed before, but sitcoms seem to have some subtle theme that people never notice unless they really watch for it.  The lesson here I think is people change no matter what, but if you and your friends are close enough, they will always be there for you.

in class prompt 4

The hall was quiet until she heard a locker slam shut.  She turned around to see her mortal enemy standing there with a smirk on her face.  "I know what you did" her enemy said raising an eyebrow.  "Oh yea?  You you can't prove I did anything."  she said feeling slightly relieved.  She had known what she done and she also knew that nobody could prove she did anything if the event ever came into question.  She had done her homework; she knew how to hide any and all evidence that could point to her, and at any minute she could turn around and frame her friend.  "Calm down.  I know but I won't tell anyone.  For now."  She started panicking.  Of all the people to find out what happened, it had to be her. 'Why?' she thought to herself.   "Well, since you know your in on it too so you couldn't tell anyone anyway."  She said gaining confidence. "

In Class Response #2

The object that has helped me as a reader/ writer are books.  To be specific, I brought the Hunger Games to class because that is the book I am currently reading.  I love the dull thud sound that a hardcover book makes when you shut it, and the crinkling sound the pages make in a particularly old book.  Being a relatively new story, my book isn't old enough to make that noise.  However, my book has been worn down from being read by so many people.  The black cover is starting to wear away and turn white, the corners of the cover are bent, and pages are dog-eared.  The cover of the book feels very soft and fuzzy in the spots where it is wearing down.  I love the smell of the pages and the ink when you open a new book.  I've never tried eating any of my books, so I don't know how it tastes firsthand, but when you smell something you can always taste it.  The books place in reading is pretty obvious but it also helps in writing.  It shows you another persons writing styles, their views and opinions on various subjects, or their take on classic stories.  I find great inspiration in my favorite stories anytime I actually try to write anything.

Readers Response #2 The Canary-Colored Caravan of Death

I read the Canary Colored Caravan of Death by Allison Bechdel.  The biggest thing I got from the story was the distance from the family members.  Being from a family that is close to each other, this was the first thing I picked up on.  Another thing I noticed from reading the story was the authors’ dislike of the town Beech Creek.  I think her reason for not liking the town was because of her sexuality and as she had said at her fathers’ funeral, the town was a small, small-minded town.  I also think that she wishes that she was closer to her father like she was in her dreams.  I also got from the reading that she didn’t want any sympathy for her fathers’ death, or at the very least for people to stop treating her like she’s fragile because like she said at the end of the story other than meals her family basically did nothing together, making them an artists’ colony.  I also think that when her father took over coloring in her coloring book, it was his way of trying to get closer to her.  This is something that while her father attempted to get closer to her, her mother preferred to keep her distance.  I do however; think that when Allison and her mother heard the recording her late father made was their own moment of closeness.  Though I think this was a brief window of closeness and after that they went back to their normal relationship of keeping distant from each other.    

In Class Prompt #1

I have never had any issues with reading.  Writing however is a different story.  When I write, I hate letting other people read whatever I write.  As you can imagine that makes an assignment like this all the more difficult.  I think that writing is difficult for me because when you write something and someone gives you constructive criticism, and you are ten, makes it a little hard to want to write anything. 

As for the reading, I have always loved to read.  In my literacy narrative, I could use my love for reading by explaining how in first grade, we tested our reading skills and read books that were in our level.  I could mention how I was in the highest group in the class.  I could also mention how the next year, in second grade, I read the first two Harry Potter books even though at the time they were middle school level, and ranked higher the further I got into the series.  In fourth grade they had to add books to the Accelerated Reading program, because I had read all the ones that were allowed and still needed more to test on.  

I honestly wish that I could write as much as I could read, and someday I hope to overcome my fear of criticism.  Actually, the fact that I did not switch classes after the mention of having to write a blog for class to me is a big step in the right direction.  This blog is slowly helping me get over my fear of not writing so much as letting other people see what I am writing.  I hope that one day, I will be able to write, show my work to anybody, and be proud of it instead of just throwing it away.

Nemats' Secondhand Bookseller

I have read Secondhand Bookseller by Marina Nemat.  Starting with the mini-biography of Marina, reading about how she was arrested at sixteen for speaking out in a science class.  Hearing that at the very beginning I was hoping the story would be about that.  While it wasn’t I was still very impressed with the story.  To me her details made me feel like I was standing with her in the bookstore, or in her friends’ backyard.  One problem I had with the story was when Albert had handed her the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  The problem I had with it was when Albert had told her that it was the first book in the series.  That isn’t true.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is technically the second book in the series. 

 One thing I wish they would have explained more is why would she prefer to stay out of her mothers’ way?  Reading through it, her mother didn’t seem all that bad, I feel that if she had a reason to mention that she avoided her mother, she could have explained a little more.  The first time I read about her lying to her mom about not feeling well, right when she switched to talking about her dad and grandma, I was slightly confused because the ways she transitioned from one grandparent to the next.  I also wonder if she ever considered how angry her mother might be for selling her school supplies to her friends.

Hospital Visits

Today my mom, brother, cousin, and I went to the hospital to visit my grandma.  When we got there the nurse had told us that she had just fallen asleep and would be drowsy from the morphine.  When we went in I was glad to see that she was getting better.  The last time I had seen her, she was still not moving and had the ventilator tube in her throat.  But today, she forced herself to stay awake even though she couldn't talk yet.  She responded by staring at whoever was talking and when someone made a joke she would heave like she was laughing.

Let me go back and explain.  My grandma was admitted to the hospital a few weeks back because she had an infection that would have killed her.  That Saturday, my whole family was at the hospital all day waiting to hear some news about how she was doing.  The doctor had come and told us that she needed surgery.  Without the surgery she would have died for sure.  With the surgery there was a slim chance for survival.  We stayed at the hospital the whole day waiting for the surgery.  People dealt with it in different ways.  Some cried, some made jokes to lighten the mood, and some people just acted like she was going to be fine.  I was in the latter of the 2 groups.

After the surgery, my cousin, brother and I were in our grandmas’ hospital room, we had to wear gloves, a mask, and a gown to be in her room and I couldn’t help but feel slightly like a doctor in all that gear.  I looked at my cousin and brother and mentioned this then, with a straight face I look at them and demand for a scalpel.  Once we got out of the room, my cousin and brother both slapped me and said what I did was not funny and uncalled for.  My mom had asked what I did and we told her.  Her response was “What’s wrong with that?  Grandma would have laughed”.  Anyway, a few weeks later, we learned she had a new infection in her chest and told us we needed to wash with special hand soap before we left.  The days between that Saturday and this past Monday were rough on my family at least up until we received news a few days back that she was doing better and finally waking up.