A Midsummer Night's Dream as the classical play was the most interesting to me of the traditional pieces that we read. It seemed to have the sunniest disposition and entertaining plot. It had a little humor, drama, and romance. The graphic novel that I enjoyed the most was that of American Born Chinese. I liked seeing the three "different" stories woven together. These pieces were on the lighter side compare to Night and Maus, and therefore more enjoyable in my opinion.
I would still consider myself a fan of graphic novels...just not of the ones we read in this class. Blankets didn't really appeal to me because I am neither in love or very religious.
I think I have grown as a reader. I have learned to look more deeply into the meanings of words and wonder and infer why the author would choose certain words or descriptions. I think that I have become a better reader, and am able to pick out important information.
The graphic novels were far easier for me to get through than the plain texts. I found it most challenging to read The Bluest Eye and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. I felt I had no real personal connection to the pieces, therefore I couldn't become as involved in the story. I'm not trying to be racist when I say that if I were black or lesbian, I may have enjoyed or understood those pieces better. Those readings did broaden my horizon slightly... making me diverge from my normal science fiction and fantasy reads.

It’s All in Good Fun

Father and child relationships cannot be defined by black and white or love and hate. Instead, such kinship needs to be viewed as gray areas. Theodore Roethke's poem “My Papa's Waltz” displays a fine line between physical abuse and love. The relationship in Craig Thompson's Blankets reveals a hint of psychological abuse followed by a content and loving relationship.  Although there is a hint of abuse in these texts, the relationships are healthy.

Roethke’s word choice may hinder the idea of a loving relationship between the father and child, but overall the general undertone of the poem is that of playful and reckless behavior after the father returns home from work.  Theodore’s father worked in a greenhouse, which would explain the caked dirt on his hands and the battered knuckle. Although the subject of the poem may not have been Theodore Roethke, he may have taken details of his childhood and portrayed them in his poems.   Theodore’s decision to use the word “papa” in the title instead of “father” gives the poem a more endearing feel.

The father had whiskey on his breath, but there was no indication that he was a violent drunk.  He was simply unsteady on his feet, and when he missed a step, his belt buckle would knick the ear of the child. 

The mother had her face in a frown, but for good reason.  It was not because her child was being beaten, but because her dishes were falling from the shelf. I know my mother would do more than just frown at me for breaking dishes.  I am certain she or many other mothers would not stand by while their child is beaten so blatantly before her.  If a mother would just stand by for whatever reason, I doubt there would be a simple frown on her face.  There would be more emotion tearing at her.

Recently, in my psychology of genders class, we discussed abuse.  Most victims are female, but male victims should not be overlooked.  One of our speakers, named Eric, said that it was not something he could come out and confess to his mother. He could only hint at it—and hope she understood.  When the truth came out about his abuse, his mother claimed she would have done something more for him, had she known.   

A “romp” has several meanings, but the main definition is of a fun or light-hearted affair. I highly doubt any form of abuse would be described as happy amusement, especially by the abused. 

In this video “My Papa’s Waltz” is dissected quickly for literary and grammatical significance.  This poem, like many others are open to interpretation even if the author has a set meaning for them.  When assessing a poem, the only reason it becomes real or obtains meaning is because “…we believe them and believe in them” (Shapiro 174).

          

  “…The poem need not be read exclusively as a positive or a negative portrait of this family moment. Surely this was a moment characterized by conflicting emotions for the speaker: love and fright; excitement and concern; a rough tenderness. Family relationships are seldom simple, seldom one-dimensional…”

(McKenna 37).

   This is a very true statement.  Depending on experiences of individuals, the interpretation of the poem would differ. 

In the beginning of Blankets, Craig puts up a visual front in order to portray the father as a sinister character.  As seen below, the physical features of the father are menacing and sharp.  Take his nose for example; it is hooked and sharp—giving the impression of a not-so-friendly personality.  When the father first makes an appearance in the doorway of the boys’ bedroom, he is nothing but a large shadow that blocks the light.   

In comparison to the boys’ faces, which are predominantly white and without excess ink, the father’s face has dark lines throughout it and one cannot even see his eyes.  This gives an ominous feel to the entire demeanor of the father. 

The father in Blankets is a burly man, whose strength is exemplified by how massively he is drawn.  He may not have been that large in real life, but his presence may have been so commanding that he seemed that large. 

What needs to be taken into consideration about this scene is that we were only showed one instance of interaction between Craig and his father at this point. 

The final pages of Blankets illustrate how Craig’s father really was.  The eyes of a child can put a scary mask on anything.  Now, with the eyes of an adult, Thompson is able to understand that his father was not as frightful as he once was. 

In the frames below, one can see how some simplistic features have changed on the father.  He has a slight smile throughout those panels and has lost those dark lines that were etched across his brow by Craig Thompson’s childhood imagination.    

In a series of studies done by Pennsylvania State University, a strong correlation occurred between paternal involvement with biological sons and the sons’ lack of anxiety and anger.  With fathers spending more time with their sons, anxiety and anger decreased (Molenaar et al 267).  This provides evidence that the child in Roethke’s poem, and Craig would have had better dispositions while spending time with their father’s.  I believe that a father’s embrace hold comfort in it, and an outsider cannot judge unless they have a complete understanding of the relationship. 

In “My Papa’s Waltz,” one can tell that the child in enjoying his or herself while gallivanting around the house with his or her father figure.  In Blankets, Craig’s father was never meant to seem so sinister.  Although he is drawn with sharp features, he was later drawn with a sunny smile that illustrates how Thompson grew to understand his father. 

Fathers play a crucial role in the lives of their children, in both positive and negative ways, but that cannot be determined easily. The relationships portrayed in “My Papa’s Waltz” and Blankets are those of healthy dispositions. Even though there are some faults in the states of their relationships, they share positive bonds. 

Works Cited

McKenna, John J. “Roethke’s Revisions and the tone of My Papa’s Waltz.” ANQ 11:2            

(1998): 34-38

Molenaar, Peter C. M., SinClair, Katerina O., Rovine, Michael J., Ram, Nilam, Corneal,          

Sherry E. “Analyzing Developmental Processes on an Individual Level Using             

Nonstationary Time Series Modeling.” Developmental Psychology 45 (2009):            

        260-271 

Shapiro, Johanna. “Can Poetry Be Data? Potential Relationships Between Poetry and             

Research.” Families, Systems, and Health 22 (2004): 171-177

Thompson, Craig.  Blankets. Ed. 5. Marietta: Top Shelf, 2005.

 

I really like the plot of A Midsummer Night's Dream, but Neil Gaiman's version was a bit too chaotic for me to follow easily. When I first started reading this piece I was thrown off when Shakespeare bounded into the panels. I had to reread that to understand he was going to be a part of this as well.
I'm not a fan of the graphics. They are done exceptionally well, but there are just subtleties that bother me...such as the nose of a character (mostly Titiana) would be drawn so sharp, and can't help but think of her as mean... when in the other version I thought she was noble and stubborn. Now I see her as kind of snotty.
The idea of being unsure who the audience is makes me wonder. Take that twisted idea and put it into reality. Who is watching who? And who is acting for who? EVERYONE! Well, I'm not trying to put paranoid thoughts into your head, but think about it. At some point, whether we like it or not, someone will watch us... not in a creepy way, but in a general sense. A stranger on the street, a parent, etc. And we all change ourselves even a little bit to fit in...even if we claim we're individuals.
Puck and Oberon were the main audience in my opinion (besides ourselves). They witness the mischief they have sown in both the lovers and with Titiana and Bottom. But how could we not be the overall audience when we watch Oberon and Puck as well as everything else?? It's slightly twisted because then you can think about Shakespeare's role. He wrote the play, did he not? He had to have known what people's reactions would have been... and the observation of people in general would have given him insight on what to write and how to write it.
I would need to learn more about Shakespeare to know if what was written was actually fact... until then I'll just assume that it was based on actual events (such as the death of his son).

In the manga edition of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the deaths in general (the majority of which are stabbings) are far more comic than need be.  I'm not saying that they are funny, but the way the characters are depicted... their eyes too buggy and round... it just seems like the deaths are taken too lightly.  Even the drawings lack the darkness that should be there when facing a formidable thing such as death.  Overall, the story was not taken as seriously in the manga, as it was in the original.

The relationship between Oberon and Puck makes me think of "bromance."  Their relationship consists of Puck trying to please Oberon, while Oberon being stern, finds enjoyment in the acts of his friend/servant.  In the ballet of a Midsummer Night's dream, Oberon comes on stage and dances by himself for a moment, then invites Puck out to dance as well.  Once Puck joins in, Oberon steps back and enjoys the show.  This shows what their friendship is.  Puck provides the entertainment for Oberon, and Oberon provides the means for Puck to do so.  

Adaptations of Shakespeare's works allow today's society (in its many forms) to understand the language, plot, and story lines in ways that are different from the past.  Because of the many variety of medias Shakespeare's plays have taken on, a broader audience can be reached.  

Puck's Dance, shows alot about Puck's character.  He is playful and mischievous, yet graceful and sly.

HELENA
How happy some o'er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know:
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities:
Things base and vile, folding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.
As waggish boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjured every where:
For ere Demetrius look'd on Hermia's eyne,
He hail'd down oaths that he was only mine;
And when this hail some heat from Hermia felt,
So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt.
I will go tell him of fair Hermia's flight:
Then to the wood will he to-morrow night
Pursue her; and for this intelligence
If I have thanks, it is a dear expense:
But herein mean I to enrich my pain,
To have his sight thither and back again.

I thought this passage was an insight to anyone's mind.  Don't we all have doubts about our own qualities, and compare our own attributes to others?  Shakespeare gave Helena the use of beautiful words to not only express her pain, but her jealousy and in doing so... he explained how her thought process of winning Demetruis back would work.  The words do a happy "pop" to me, they jump, in an almost merry way.  To get the same information across to the audience in "modern English," it would take many more words.  Here, the passage pokes at our curiosity and informs us at the same time.

Pages 68-69 portray Helena stalking Demetruis through the woods. It's overly dramatic which plays to the presentation of Shakeseare's time. Sometimes roles needed to be overly done in order to convey a clearer message. Helena compares herself to a spaniel that bends to Demetrius' every whim. Demetruis shuns Helena and her foolish behavior.
Helena's words are encompassed in heart-shaped bubbles while Demetruis' once oval bubbles turn into harsh sporatic splotches. Helena's, on the other hand, remain heart-shaped. This just gives proof that it will take far more than harsh words to persuad her to no longer love Demetruis.
The clothes worn are a mixture of modern with old. There is an initial toga-like appearance that fades into suit pants or socks and sandals.
The backgrounds are simple enough. The majority of the scenes are in wooded areas. This would be a great convenience to the crew who had to build the set. They didn't need to plan for too many changes and could create this set with a small budget.

It's All in Good Fun

Father and child relationships cannot be defined by black and white or love and hate. Instead, such kinship needs to be viewed as gray areas. Theodore Roethke's poem “My Papa's Waltz” displays a fine line between physical abuse and love. The relationship in Craig Thompson's Blankets reveals a sense of psychological abuse followed by a content and loving relationship. These two pieces although seemingly different hold similar themes in common. In both, there is a sense of abuse (whether physical or mental) that can be overpowered by evidence supporting healthy or “normal” relationships between father and child.
“My Papa’s Waltz” may be interpreted in varying ways. The most predominant stance is that the poem reflects Roethke’s childhood positively. Theodore Roethke’s relationship with his father was not flawless and merry like these two, but there is no definitive evidence suggesting there was any foul play.
Roethke’s word choice may hinder the idea of a loving relationship between the father and child (the child is presumed to be Theodore), but overall the general undertone of the poem is that of playful and reckless behavior after the father returns home from work. Theodore’s father worked in a greenhouse, which would explain the caked dirt on his hands and the battered knuckle—greenhouse labor is taxing on the body.
The father had whiskey on his breath, but there was no indication that he was a violent drunk. He was simply unsteady on his feet, and when he missed a step, his belt buckle would knick the ear of the child.
The mother had her face in a frown, but for good reason. It was not because her child was being beaten, but because her dishes were falling from the shelf. I know my mother would do more than just frown at me for breaking dishes. I am certain she or many other mothers would stand by while their child is beaten so blatantly before her.
Recently, in my psychology of genders class, we discussed abuse. Most victims are female, but male victims should not be overlooked. One of our speakers, named Eric, said that it was not something he could come out and confess to his mother. He could only hint at it—and hope she understood. When the truth came out about his abuse, his mother claimed she would have done something more for him, had she known.
The mother in Roethke’s poem was witness to the events taking place. She had known what was going on and done nothing. Had this been a case of abuse, she would have stepped in and protected her child.
A “romp” has several meanings, but the main definition is of a fun or light-hearted affair. I highly doubt any form of abuse would be described as happy amusement, especially by the abused.
In this video, “My Papa’s Waltz” is dissected quickly for literary and grammatical significance. This poem, like many others are open to interpretation even if the author has a set meaning for them. When assessing a poem, the only reason it becomes real or obtains meaning is because “…we believe them and believe in them” (Shapiro 174).
In the beginning of Blankets, Craig puts up a visual front in order to portray the father as a sinister character. As seen below, the physical features of the father are menacing and sharp. Take his nose for example; it is hooked and sharp—giving the impression of a not-so-friendly personality. When the father first makes an appearance in the doorway of the boys’ bedroom, he is nothing but a large shadow that blocks the light.
In comparison to the boys’ faces, which are predominantly white and without excess ink, the father’s face has dark lines throughout it and one cannot even see his eyes. This gives an ominous feel to the entire demeanor of the father.
The father in Blankets is a burly man, whose strength is exemplified by how massively he is drawn. He may not have been that large in real life, but his presence may have been so commanding that he seemed that large.
What needs to be taken into consideration about this scene is that we were only showed one instance of interaction between Craig and his father at this point. One cannot base lifetime relationship on five pages of illustration.
The final pages of Blankets illustrate how Craig’s father really was. The eyes of a child can put a scary mask on anything. Now, with the eyes of an adult, Thompson is able to understand that his father was not as frightful as he once was.
In the frames below, one can see how some simplistic features have changed on the father. He has a slight smile throughout those panels and has lost those dark lines that were etched across his brow by Craig Thompson’s childhood imagination.

Fathers play a crucial role in the lives of their children, in both positive and negative ways, but that cannot be determined easily. The relationships portrayed in “My Papa’s Waltz” and Blankets are those of healthy disposition. Even though there are some faults in the states of their relationships, they share positive bonds.

Works Cited

Molenaar, Peter C. M., SinClair, Katerina O., Rovine, Michael J., Ram, Nilam, Corneal, Sherry E. “Analyzing Developmental Processes on an Individual Level Using Nonstationary Time Series Modeling.” Developmental Psychology 45 (2009):              260-271 

Shapiro, Johanna. “Can Poetry Be Data? Potential Relationships Between Poetry and Research.” 

Families, Systems, and Health 22 (2004): 171-177

Thompson, Craig.  Blankets. Ed. 5. Marietta: Top Shelf Productions, 2005.

Students for a Sustainable Earth

SSE is proud to bring Josh Dorfman to campus.  He is an author, radio host, and TV star that talks about Lazy Evironmentalism.

On March 27 at 6 PM 

in 2304 of Sangren Hall, 

come see Josh Dorfman speak.  

It's free!

Close read of Pablo Neruda's poem:
Pablo makes his message clear. There once was happiness in his little Spanish town where happiness blossomed in every cranny of his house... When he says "Remember Raul?" It's like asking someone to remember a better time... hey, remember when...
He speaks of Raul, Rafel, and Federico as though they are dead... "The light of June drowned flowers in your mouth..." That line makes me think that they are buried, and in need of being remembered.
The basic feel of the beginning is of home, toasty and comforting--then the planes come and childrens' blood fills the streets... and the good feeling is definitely gone.

Record/ New Thesis

First off, I changed my thesis (because I'm wishy washy).
Thesis:
A father's Involvement with his child is a key factor in the psychological development of the child. Roethke's poem My Papa's Waltz displays a fine line between physical abuse and love. The relationship in Thompson's Blankets reveals a sense of psychological abuse followed by a content and loving relationship.

Anger and anxiety affect and are affected by the involvement of a father-figure (see charts)--(Molenaar, Sinclair, et al 261).
"...In poetry we find that what has often been caled a unique entry into the subjective experience and point of view of others, especially others unlike ourselves" (Shapiro 174).
Shapiro goes on to explain that poetry takes us into other places and situations... some that we may not wish to be a part of (Shapiro 174).

On page 131 of Maus II, I thought it was interesting that the British were represented by fish. It's almost humorous... y'know... fish'n'chips. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I just wonder what Spiegelman was trying to say about British. I think of the "dead fish handshake" that is a faux pa when shaking hands. Instead of having a firm grip, it's limp and not really dignified. Was Spiegelman trying to convey that the British weren't much help?
That's my little ramble. Let me know what you think.

Ps. Sorry I'm obsessed with the portrayal of different nationalities as different animals.
Can you imagine being able to tell the difference of people heritage by seeing if they had a tail?
weird.

In the early parts of the book (especially 30 and 33) we are introduced to three types of characters in Maus. First are the Jews. They are represented by small and seemingly insignificant mice. The Nazis come in the form of sinister looking cats who hunt mice. There is a somewhat neutral type. It's the pig. Although they sometimes play the role of policemen, they can be as caring as nurses.

I think that Siegelman used mice to portray Jews for a couple of reasons. There is the obvious: Cats vs. Mice scenario, that plays well into the theme of Nazis vs. Jews. Another reason is that there are mixed feelings about them. I like mice, but others (such as my mum...) would rather dispose of the little vermin. During WWII, some people jumped on the band wagon and thought ill of Jews while others sympathized and helped the Jews.
The use of pigs was just to show that some did not choose sides, and to

Research Paper ramblings...

I don't know what form I will have my research project be just yet (although I am leaning toward the multimedia one). I would like to focus on Emily Dickinson's poem "Much Madness is the Divinest Sense."
Within that poem, I would like to explore the idea of people in society treated differently based on their beliefs... or something to that effect. We as people treat people differently because we are sometimes threatened by the insight or knowledge one may have. I want to dig deeper into that.

I think that this topic is interesting and will have some information available to support my tentative hypothesis.

I could give examples of others who spoke their minds and were out-casted for it.

P.S. I have to use another text to go along with this...

Page 17: The panels on this page are more visual than auditory. The frames are filled mostly with darkness that represents the dread that Phil felt when entering the cubby hole. The menacing snap of the cot catches your attention and you can almost here the metallic click and groan of it stretching into place. These frames make the father out to be a merciless character. He ignores the pleading of his youngest son, and continues to force him onto the cot. Phil's nose is rounded, but his father's is sharp and pointed. This gives insight to their personalities. Phil is innocent and childlike, but his father is stern and unforgiving. The text gradually becomes more chaotic. It went from small and linear to larger and more frantic, "NO NO NO NO..." The final frame shows Phil accepting his fate of having to spend the night in the cubby hole, but not quite ready to give up the fight. He scrapes his nails down the door.

Page 25: Craig felt he should have been the one to sleep in the cubby hole. He knew that he failed at being the older brother and that guilt built up inside of him. When the school bullies began mocking Phil, Craig snapped. This was his chance to protect his little brother. He didn't put up much of a fight and ended up in quite a mess. In the panel that Craig is in the bathroom Craig takes out his frustration on the toilet paper. He unrolls the toilet paper, and you can almost hear the squeak of the dispenser. He crumples the most-likely rough paper and mashes it to his face. The background color changed from black to white... as though his frustrations were disappearing as he calmed down. He runs his bloody palms down the mirror, leaving behind red streaks. This is similar to the final frame on page 17. Now Craig had taken the same beating as Phil.

Craig's Relationships:
his brother: (pgs 12,19,21,44, 71) He doesn't give the impression that they are close, but Craig loves Phil.
God: (55, 56, 80, 87) Craig feels that God is the only person who accepts him and offers him a better life.
himself: (86) He is unsatisfied with himself, and longs for something better.
Raina: (173) Craig is really happy with Raina, and she accepts him.
the Church
his parents

"I cannot recall a time when I did not know I was special."
This is a quote from Jeanette Winterson's Oranges are not the Only Fruit. It's on the first page of the text and is subtle but significant.
It has a broad sense of foreshadowing, but at the same time it creates a relationship between the reader and Jeanette. I felt a connection at that point because I think that everyone believes that they are special is some sort of fashion. We're all stuck in our heads a little bit. Remember the idea in McCloud's book that some think the world revolves around him/her. He illustrated this by drawing himself walking and seeing the world in front of him, and behind him (only when he looked). The world would disappear when he did not look at it.
It's a selfish way of thinking, and I thought that was almost the way of thinking of Jeanette, but then I realized she thought of "special" in a different way. Not the way of "the world revolves around me" but a special that was different. It's not necessarily a bad different, but it was enough to create issues for her (that ultimately made her into a better person... in my opinion). She became herself. It took her some time to pave her own path and separate her thoughts from her mother's but she became true to herself, and that was special.

I believe in God, but I don't go to church. I remember in Elementary school other kids would ask me why I didn't go very often. Well, my church closed down because of the lack of care that people put into the establisment. The Preacher demanded more money than the parish could raise and therefore, it fell apart. Can you blame me for not trusting an establishment in the name of God? Instead, I can trust myself. There is always a safe place in my heart that God can stay and no one can take that away.
My parents have always given me options about religion, among many other things. When I was little they seemed strict, but no I see that they are always protective yet open to new things at the same time.
I apparently thought it was February 23, and I read the first half of Blankets instead of the assigned Oranges are not the Only Fruit. Therefore, I can't complete the rest of this blog until I backtrack and catch up.

My own view of myself may be different than how others view me.  I could be way more critical of myself than anyone actually is of me.  My point is that people judge themselves more harshly because they believe that's what others are doing about them.  Pecola desperately wanted to have beautiful blue eyes because she thought that having blue eyes would make people see her in a different, and better way.  

There is the fact that she was black and that there were prejudices set against her, but she made a mistake when she let it change her opinion of herself.  Jin Wang did the same thing.  He seemed constantly paranoid that we was going to be pushed into the role of the stereotypical Asian and not be seen for who he was.  His defense?  He changed himself (of course Pecola's tale was more realistic and she couldn't change herself, but that's exactly what she wanted to do). 

That youtube video about the black or white preference in dolls is interesting and in a way sad.  I thought that because psychologically we prefer things that resemble ourselves, that the children would choose the baby that was most like them.  I know that I would have chosen the white baby.  I have this memory from a few years ago when I was playing barbies with a friend (who was black).  She had Barbies in both black and white.  I basically have white Barbies, unless you counted Pocahontas or Jasmine.  I was just raised that way, and I didn't know there was anything better.  I didn't buy my dolls, my family or friends did.  I feel that so many factors play into that experiment, such as that child's background, experiences, or who they are surrounded by.  

I have to go, but I'll try to expand more later. 

My Papa's Waltz

I find it hard to decipher if one line out of an entire poem could be the most meaningful, but if I had to choose... it would be the very last line.  "Still clinging to your shirt."  It's not as detailed as the previous lines where Roethke spoke of the scent of whiskey and a battered knuckle.  Instead there is an innocence to this last line.  It's as if the child were taking note of all the faults in his father, but ignoring them because this "waltz" or rhythm of life is comforting to him.

American Born Chinese was an interesting read. I finished it within an hour and was amazed at how fast it went by. The story was more complex than I initially thought. Within the overall story there are three parts that come to play intermittently. Jin-Wang was the first character introduced, then the Monkey King, and finally Danny. Each of these characters had a similar conflict-- They needed to accept themselves. Jin-Wang's revolution did not happen until the very end, but the Monkey King's helped the entire storyline move forward.
The Monkey King was so consumed by the thought of becoming like the other deities that he lost sight of who he really was. When the monk showed the Monkey King that things could be better, the Monkey King did not believe him at first. When the two were discussing the Monkey King's ability to escape this rut he had put himself into you can see in the panels just how pointless it was to resist. In two of the panels, the Monkey King was made speechless by the monk's reasoning.
Danny was battling a couple of things. The main thing was himself. He was so afraid of embracing his heritage that he lashed out at anything that would cause suspicion that he was not just a cookie-cutter boy. Chin-Kee was his other enemy. It was not by design, it was just that Danny felt that his newly found school life was being threatened.
When we find out that Jin Wang is actually Danny and Chin-Kee is The Monkey King, everything seems to make sense. Of course I was a little confused. I thought that the Monkey King segments were added to give some background to the Asian culture, but it turns out that those panels played a significant role.
The panels that interested me the most were those of when the Monkey King was under the rocks, and the only way to escape was to "release" himself and become himself and not what other people expected him to be. I thought that was an amazing lesson.

I think that if you have an imagination it's almost impossible not to read the world into a story. Isn't that what authors count on? Our ability to relate and transfer fictional ideas to reality?
Race, gender, and class can be focused on in literature because it's focused on in the everyday world.
I usually read fictional stories (I find nonfiction rather depressing) and I have found these three factors all over! In Harry Potter for example, race could be seen as being a muggle-born or pure-blood. In many of Jane Austen's novels, she displays the issues of social standing (class) and that of woman (gender). Those ideas have to stem from somewhere, right? It makes everything come full circle, whether the author intended it or not. Just like our own interpretations... we all make different assumptions based on ourselves and how we perceive the world around us.

I don't chew with my mouth open, but if I did... would I be looked down upon? Does my race or social class protect me from that? When I see someon'es food being brutally chewed, I can't help but wonder ho their mother could have neglected teaching htem manners... I think it's more of manners rather than race. And our actions do change around people of different social standing.

Multimodial is like our senses.  We use many means to interpret the world around us (smell, sight, touch, taste, and sound).  

Multisemiotics are the meanings that the individual takes away from each mode or sense.  We may all experience the same thing, but how it relates to us through our history, culture, society, and our own individuality is different.  So in a way, multisemiotics feed off of multimodial.  And it's good to keep in mind that (from the article):

The idea that there is one standard set of meanings for all is no longer considered true. Rather, the available meanings taken from any instance of communication are potentially multiple, or multisemiotic.

Multimodial literacy relies heavily on the senses (film, books, audio).  You have to look at every piece of literature as you would a culture-- holistically.    In Mcloud, all of our senses are involved, even when you don't realize it.  The images stimulate our visual sense, while the words work their way into our minds.  Words are pretty powerful if you think about it.  The imagery along with the detail in description and dialogue can persuade our minds into thinking that we can smell, taste, and even hear!  I remember reading last year an article by Stephen King about writing.  He describes writing as telepathy.  As we read, the author invades our mind and makes us think what he wants us to (in most cases).  I think that's incredibly interesting because it's true (for me a least).  

Molly Bang Concepts

In this painting (Iowa American Gothic) the possible relationship between the two subjects seems strained. If it is natural tendency to feel threatened by sharp objects like Molly Bang says, then the pitchfork plays an important role. Take note that the pitchfork is also placed near the center and the center is what draws our attention the most. I have heard that the actual description of this piece is that it's a father driving away unwanted suitors from his daughter.I don't know if I agree with that unless he has been doing that for a long time because the daughter doesn't seem to be in her prime anymore. Even the roof of the house in the background comes to a point. The only roundness or security that can be found is in the shape of the subjects' head the man's glasses and the woman's brooch. Frankly, this kinda creeps me out. Their expressions are unnerving and the old man is staring at me. The woman isn't as bad because she is staring off elsewhere but her expression is sad or frustrated. The upper part of the painting does look to be freer...just look at the colors...the sky is a friendly blue and the trees are a fresh shade of green but once you shift your gaze to the bottom of the painting the colors darken and you find yourself looking at a not-s0-friendly pitchfork.

What is real literature? Whoa, I don't know where to start. I used to think that literature was always in the form of an extremely thick book (Moby Dick, Jane Eyre, etc). I guess I'm wrong. Literature generally encompasses any media that displays or passes on some form of information? I'm not sure of the textbook definition, but that's how I'm trying to view it.
I admit that I have a trunk full of comic books at home (filled with classics such as Batman, Justice League, and even some Teen Titans). Yeah... I'm basically a dork, but hey I like it that way. I know that there are the stereotypes that go along with comic book reading... like a forty-something-year-old that lives in his mother's basement and attends conventions dressed as his favorite hero or villian... (I'm not that into comic books)... or maybe those are just Star Trek junkies... anywho...
McCloud's book introduced me to some interesting concepts, such as the "gutter" of a comic book page. I didn't realize that while I was reading comic books, I was bringing them to life, and my imagination was basically the main machine... even when there are no images!
I would sometimes think that if I wasn't participating in something, it wasn't happening (of course that's a rather self-centered way of thinking so I gave that up a few years back). When I read that McCloud had those thoughts himself, I thought that as kind of funny, and I have to say, I'm glad I wasn't alone in thinking that...

Lalala, I like books.

What is an American?

     Technically? It's someone with citizenship in the Americas, but there is a whole other meaning assigned to the word. My take on it is that an American is someone who strives for better not only for their benefit, but for the benefit of many. Now, I can't say that is the only thing an American does, because I consider myself to be an American... but what am I doing to help the people in my community?
I think that passion plays a big role in someone's identity as an American. Sheesh, this is slightly frustrating because I was to give "American" a textbook definition, but I know that is nearly impossible.  Being American is being anything.

      Both my parents are teachers and though they sometimes lose patience with their work, they continue because they like it--they like to know that they are making a difference. My sister's boyfriend is in the army--stationed in Germany-- and even though he isn't all too thrilled about the war in general, he has risked his life to not only protect his homeland, but also other people threatened during this time.
So what have I done? Sheesh, nothing but go to college, but I guess that's a good enough start for now.

The Feminist theory is appealing to me because…well basically because I’m female! I think it is a great thing that women in the past and still today push to make their presence appreciated. This theory makes you wonder what kind of roles women play. Whether a woman is present or not is a big indicator of the author’s view of women. Say there were no females in the book, could this mean that the author thinks that woman aren’t important enough to be displayed? If women are present, then what are their characters like—are they stereotypical in their roles or personalities? I think this ties into the New Historicism theory because in order to understand why the author or creator portrays women in such ways, you need to look at all that could influence the product.

The New Historicism theory catches my interest with its proposition that literary works should be viewed in their own context. That context could be referring to time and geographical settings as well as culture. I think this could apply to people as well as literature. You can’t understand a person fully if you simply judge them based on your own standards or background. You have to see how other factors have played a role in the molding of both people and literary works. Now that’s quite the life lesson. 

I think that all the theories are linked with a bit of gray haze… each can overlap with another, yet one could stand-alone. I find that look at different pieces through the lenses of separate theories changes my mindset, and I end up taking different information from the same thing.