Last Blog Post

I wasn't sure what to do, and I didn't want to type a looooong blog post, so I decided to write a haiku that represented my high school for me.

The morning sunrise
Drifting away till sunset
Angst, Despair, Complete

(This was harder than it looks, coming up with the right words and making sense with those words)

Whitman Journals

The first thing I noticed is that Whitman had very bad handwriting. It is difficult to read what he has written, but there is a considerable amount that is legible. There were few references of the word liberty (I believe it says "Libertad"), and Christ. Looking further into his journal, I was rather amazed by the drawings. I believe most of them are drawings of Whitman himself, just with a different pose or accessory(i'm referencing the hats). There was also this strange drawing of what looked like a stick figure angel with a skull face and a torso shaped like a heart. This journal reveals a little more about Whitman's character. It shows us that he really does care about other people, and this caring nature extends to his political views (mentioning liberty so much). On that same note, it shows his interest perhaps in politics and government because he also mentions "the old England" and the queen of England when he talks about liberty. Additionally, I believe the drawings reveal, to some extent, Whitman's vanity. Whitman does refer to himself a number of times in his poems, and the drawings are a reflection of this self appreciation. 

 Walt Whitman's actual note transcripts show that he was actually interested in politics. Specifically, he fancied president Lincoln and tried to meet him many times. Essentially, a large portion of his journal referenced a presidential race, which further shows his devotion to his community not only as a source of compassion, but also information. Whitman's journal really helps us understand more about his beliefs and who he really is. As I mentioned earlier, there is a reference to Christ in the journal, and this is related to an entry about religion, and the value and meaning it holds to Whitman. Ultimately, Whitman's journal does more than just show us how creatively he thinks or his thought process while he brainstorms. Instead, it reveals just who Walt Whitman is in a way that is a lot more unique and direct than it being told by another person.

Lost In Translation

#1:As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

diction (connotation/denotation): simple and straightforward. The use of "gigantic" adds some extremity.

- syntax: Lack of punctuation except the period at the end of the sentence. No pauses in sentence
- imagery/details: Imagery is created with the use of the descriptive words "uneasy" and "gigantic"

- structure: The sentence begins with "as," so the reader is already placed into the action. The lack of punctuation also adds to this effect, by making this action seem instantaneous. 

#2:Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.

diction (connotation/denotation): Also simple. Uses slang- "bug"

- syntax: Also lack of punctuation

- imagery/details: not much detail. Seems abbreviated- Removes the part about being in bed. Also changes Gregor to Gregory

- structure: shortened from the original(also shorter when compared to other translations)

#3:When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.

diction (connotation/denotation): More serious. The words "troubled" and "enormous" add a little more drama and negativity to the situation. Also uses the slang term "bug". 

- syntax: Again lack of punctuation, but it seems like there should be a comma after "morning" (I paused at this point)

- imagery/details: Strong imagery created using "troubled" and "enormous." Made me think of a big spider.

- structure: Events told in the past. Lack of punctuation creates a sense of wordiness. 

#4:One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.

diction (connotation/denotation): Higher level of formality than the other translations. 

- syntax: Only translation that uses punctuation. Breaks up the sentence into different parts- makes it easier to follow and understand

- imagery/details: Word choice plays large role in creating imagery. Unlike the other translations that said that use a synonym of big to describe the bug, this translation uses monstrous. This effects the way the reader perceives Gregor's transformation.

- structure: the separation of the sentence makes it seem more dramatic

After analyzing each, respond to the following questions in a well-developed (2-3 paragraphs) response- think about the translations as a whole: How does the word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each affect meaning? Is one more effective than another? Why? What does this exercise bring up about the difficulty of reading translated texts? How do different translations effect the tone of the sentence? 

The word choice, syntax, punctuation, etc. affects the meaning because it changes what information the reader interprets. For example, the words "uneasy" and and "bug" used in the second translation gives a lighter impression on the reader than "monstrous" and "vermin," which sound intense and horrific.I think that the fourth translation is the most effective because it relates better to Kafka's emphasis on absurdity absurdity of existence, the conflicts that come with authoritarian power, and the alienating experience of modern life. The other translations seemed animated in the way they describe Gregor's transformation. However, in the 4th translation, the description of Gregor as a "monstrous vermin" makes the situation more serious and attention grabbing.

The difficulty with reading translated texts is that there are many ways to translate an original text, and each translation will have a slightly different meaning. Unfortunately, this takes away from the author's original intentions because the reader is reading the translator's interpretation of the text. Another difficulty that comes with translation is that there are some words or phrases that have no direct English translation, so the translator is has to adjust certain words that can have an affect on the overall meaning of the text. Tone is essentially created by the way a character or narrator responds to his/her current situation. The different translations affect the tone by changing the focus is during that situation, or the words used to describe the situation.

Practice IOC

Criterion A: 5/10
I believe that I showed my knowledge adequately. I provided context for my passage, and historical context for the novel. I also referenced the passage and other points of the novel.

Criterion B: 4/10
I only analysed one literary feature, but I think I did a good job explaining how it connects to the novel and also how it effects the reader.

Criterion C: 3/5
I feel that my organization was fair. I tried to connect each point I was making so that my analysis would flow better. I also made sure to refer to things I previously said in order to provide clarity.

Criterion D: 3/5
I believe my language was adequate. I didn't use as much subject specific vocabulary, but my vocabulary was focused and consistent.

Link to Practice: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5aHkj51XkZBTEJWcnZVT3RXZDA/view?usp=sharing

Passage:

Never Let Me Go

- What similarities and differences do you find? Speculate on the reasons for the various covers.

One clear similarity between each cover is that the font of each matches the background. For the top left image, this was done by changing the color to a yellowish green color to match the leaves and grass. For the top right image, this was also done by changing the font color. The top author text is black to match the core of the hair of the faded figure, and the title text is dark brown to match the outer parts of the figure's hair. For the bottom left image, the illustrator uses the same font color(white) in different parts of the cover, and also a yellowish tan color towards the top in order to match the background sky. For the bottom right image, the font type matches the background drawing in both the color and the crookedness/sketchiness of the lines. 
A major(obvious) difference is what is portrayed in the background. The top left cover has a photograph of a young woman. The top right cover has a watercolor or pastel drawing of a young girl. The bottom left has a photograph of one boat, and the bottom right has a diagram of a human body with its organs.

Each cover is suggestive of a different aspect of the novel. The use of light, earthy colors in the top left cover, along with a young lady that appears to be alone and reflecting, hints at the blissfulness of self reflection and reminiscing. The blurry/rushed pastel drawing of a young girl on the top right cover, suggests a similar idea. However, the fade of that drawing suggests the fleeting of memories, or events that took place as children. The lonely boat on the bottom left cover hints at individuality, or the lack thereof in the novel. The ominous drawing of the human figure and organs on the bottom right cover expresses the horrific or darker aspects of the novel.

- After briefly comparing and contrasting all four covers, choose two to examine more closely: 

Perhaps the only similarities between these two covers is that they both have the title and the author of the novel, and that they include some sort of a human figure. However, there are various differences, including:
The background color of the covers- the cover on the left is very dull with varying shades of gray, while the cover on the right is lively with bright olive green, yellow, and red.
The illustrated figure- The left cover shows the upper half of a body, and the internal organs, and the right cover shows a young woman in a field of plants and flowers
The amount of details- The left cover has "cartoon quality" , with overlapping and crooked lines, while the right cover is an actual photograph of a young woman.
The font- The left cover has a cryptic or mysterious font. It seems almost like the font of a horror movie. The right cover has a much more serene font; one that is not too particular to stand out.

The reasons each illustrating company, artist or whoever created the covers, created them based on how they viewed the novel. Likely, the illustrator that created the left cover viewed the novel as twisted or somewhat dark not only because of the mysterious things, but also the sense of normalcy each character had towards those mysterious things. The illustrator on the right probably viewed the novel lightheartedly, as a nostalgic journey of a young woman. These covers could also represent how the illustrators wanted the readers to view the book. The illustrator on the left would want the reader to be aware of the mysterious and creepy elements of the novel, while the illustrator on the right would want the viewer to notice the blissful nature of past memories.

As far as cultural construction goes, I can only see it within the left cover. The novel itself was created at a time when cloning and genetic modification was a very controversial issue. It was essentially a 'hot topic' in the media. The left illustrator seems to be showing his belief (discontent, fear, etc) about something that many others believe is acceptable.

It's a Freebie For Me Dawwwg....

Double Indemnity

 Film noir literally means "black film."As you are watching the film, keep track of all the elements in the picture that seems dark or depressing. Think about the characters, the setting, and the story line.

Phyllis Dietrichson

There is no doubt that the plot of double indemnity is filled with "black" or cynical motifs. First and foremost, Phyllis Dietrichson, the wife of a wealthy, much older man was sexually objectified by the role she played in the film and the relationship she had with other characters. She is obviously a beautiful woman, not much older than her stepdaughter, and does not have a true intimate or affectionate relationship with her husband. This becomes more apparent when she plots to kill her old man in order to collect insurance money. Another impurity of Phyllis' character is seen towards the end of the film, when Walter finds out that she had been manipulating him. During the entire operation, Walter thought that he was the one in control, and was willing to do anything to properly execute the plan. However, Walter was only a pawn in Phyllis' chess game. She was only using him to ensure a free and luxurious life, and did not intend on sharing this with anyone.

Mr. Dietrichson
Early on in the film, it is easy to see that Mr. Dietrichson's reason for marrying Phyllis was a superficial attraction to her looks. He didn't respect her much as a person, often beating her whenever she did something that didn't please him. He also placed the interests of Lola, his daughter, well above those of Phyllis, and in the case of his death, Lola would collect all the money, and Phyllis will be left penniless. The sad truth this is that Mr. Dietrichson couldn't care less what happens to his wife. In his mind Lola is his only family because she is his flesh and blood. She is nothing more that a doll, or expensive accessory to be shown off. When Mr. Dietrichson is no longer around to "play with her," she may as well cease to exist because he holds no intent to provide for her after his death.