Sorry, I seemed to forget about this one. Mom's been getting on me about homework and how I have all these missing assignments for this class. I certainly hope a teacher never runs across a student like me again. I may be the laziest piece of work that one could see come ambling through their door, and I doubt any teacher leaves feeling confident in my ability to improve due to said laziness. Seriously, I wouldn't blame any of my English teachers if they thought not-so-kindly of me. I don't know why, but it's only the English classes that I slack off in. Perhaps the overwhelming stress of pre-calc or the ridiculous length of reading assigned by AP Art History that has caused me to stop caring so much in a class I could so easily pass but choose not to. And trust me, this is not me just making an excuse. If only it were that simple. It would be a totally different thing if I wasn't so painfully aware of my grades and how sickeningly, disgustingly close to good (not even perfect) they were.
I'm not here to preach about the hardships of a student, nor do I care to; Lord knows everyone is already familiar with that speech. I'm not making any excuses because there aren't any. I'm not apoligizing because I know no particular teacher cares about my grades- and apparently neither do I. I know how the world works, and it's my problem.
I'll figure it out. But I'm just making up a missed blog.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Shake it Like a Polaroid Picture
Okay, I'll be honest. I don't know that song. But I thought it was relevant because that's was Shakespeare's name starts with. And he did kind of shake up the world of literature with his revolutionary old style writing that to this day is (sometimes) undecipherable to even the most gifted in understanding Shakespearian diction. Even though, in my opinion, Shakespeare is horrible for forcing teachers to think it's okay to torture their students with trying to read his plays, I can say I admire the orginiality of them (the plays). Many a director has tried (and sometimes failed) to reproduce what Shakespeare thought up in his head.I can only imagine how riveting it would have been to sit (or stand as I understand it) in the audience and watch the actors struggle to personify and memorize those horrendous lines. The story that we are reading right now, for example, would have been thrilling to see. Ghosts and murder. What more could you ask for? Although I can say you would have to be pretty confident in your abilities to act to step up and volunteer for any role- especially a main character -in his plays.
Perhaps reading Shakespreare is for the best. I can't personally attest to any good it would do me on the outside world to be able to recite the famous "To Be or Not To Be" speech, but I know it might just be advantageous for those who like English and want to major in it in college. And I will grudgingly admit that I may or may not have been enjoying the fact that I can understand a little bit of Hamlet here and there without any help. There's always a bright side I suppose.
Perhaps reading Shakespreare is for the best. I can't personally attest to any good it would do me on the outside world to be able to recite the famous "To Be or Not To Be" speech, but I know it might just be advantageous for those who like English and want to major in it in college. And I will grudgingly admit that I may or may not have been enjoying the fact that I can understand a little bit of Hamlet here and there without any help. There's always a bright side I suppose.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Colorado Mom, You Crazy
This mother is obviously the overprotective type. And, I'll admit, one of the most overprectitive people I've heard of if she doesn't think that "The Most Dangerous Game" is suitable for her child. That, or the child is just ultra sensitive for some reason. I don't really believe in censoring, unlike this mother here. I think Mark Twain said it best when he stated: "Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it." Good one, Twain.
Anyway, I find that if you're literate and smart enough to be in an AP class, then you should be able to read anything you want. It's unfair for a smart kid to have to read dumbed down books just because someone said so. That book or story was chosen for a specific reason. Authors put violence and sex in their stories to get the message across. If you have to put down a book and just think to yourself for a minute about how intense it is, then that means it's working! The author is getting through to you! You're recieveing a message, no matter how revolting it is.
So don't be the baby that Mark twain talked about that puts everyone down. You aren't forced to read that book or story. I'm sure there's a watered down version of it on the Internet. Find another way to chew that steak and suck it up.
Anyway, I find that if you're literate and smart enough to be in an AP class, then you should be able to read anything you want. It's unfair for a smart kid to have to read dumbed down books just because someone said so. That book or story was chosen for a specific reason. Authors put violence and sex in their stories to get the message across. If you have to put down a book and just think to yourself for a minute about how intense it is, then that means it's working! The author is getting through to you! You're recieveing a message, no matter how revolting it is.
So don't be the baby that Mark twain talked about that puts everyone down. You aren't forced to read that book or story. I'm sure there's a watered down version of it on the Internet. Find another way to chew that steak and suck it up.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Oedipus Rex And Why I Don't Care
Don't worry, I don't care about the story for reasons you may think, and I certainly don't hate the story of Oedipus Rex. Although the reading is kinda keeping it tough to stay awake sometimes. I don't think the story is boring or doesn't deserve the appreciation it has actually gotten. I don't care about Oedipus Rex just because I've heard about it all four years of high school. I read a simpler version of the play when I was a freshamn, and again when I was a sophmore. In Humanities last year, we went over the story again for two classes and the same thing happened for AP Psychology when we studied Freud and the Oedipal Complex. To me, Oedipus Rex is old news. Yes, he has a fatal flaw. True, he kills his father and marries his mother. Okay. Got it. Thanks for telling me again. Perhaps I was horrified to hear this when I was a freshman, but I don't feel like it deserves my attention anymore. I know that we're just starting a drama unit, but why not cover something fresher? I wouldn't dare ask for Shakespeare (I dread the day when that unit is going to hit me in the face), but why not like a modern drama? Well, that may be too dramatic.
So good job, Oedipus. Really, I know everything about your unfortunate situation. But would you mind sharing the spotlight with other dramas that deserve credit?
So good job, Oedipus. Really, I know everything about your unfortunate situation. But would you mind sharing the spotlight with other dramas that deserve credit?
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Problemos in the Writing Department
Everyone- includuing myself- has had some difficulty with essays and thesis statements and the like. What's so troubling about writing a few well thought out sentences and proving those thoughts with evidence from the text to back it up? Well, for me it's the style of writing. I am a naturally sarcastic person who likes to ask a lot of rhetorical questions. There's already one in this paragraph. I don't take a scholarly, well-educated tone, because it isn't how I think. No, I'm not saying I'm stupid (different story for a different time), it just takes a lot of thinking and analyzing and time for me to actually transfer my jumbled thoughts into a coherent sentence. Time of which is not on my side. Sometimes, when I'm thinking really hard and looking off in the distance, a teacher will call me out for cheating. They figure since I spend so much time not writing, I'm looking off someone else's paper for ideas.
And then there's the thesis. I've had problems creating a good thesis ever since I was taught it when I was a junior. It's just hard to write something that could take you forever to think of and it still not be good enough. And the thesis needs to be pretty general, but specific at the same time because you want to be able to tie anything you say in your essay back to it. Dang.
In other news, the Dunbar Volleyball Team had a great season. I don't know anyone who's had a 30-8 record. 15-0 streak. Nice.
And then there's the thesis. I've had problems creating a good thesis ever since I was taught it when I was a junior. It's just hard to write something that could take you forever to think of and it still not be good enough. And the thesis needs to be pretty general, but specific at the same time because you want to be able to tie anything you say in your essay back to it. Dang.
In other news, the Dunbar Volleyball Team had a great season. I don't know anyone who's had a 30-8 record. 15-0 streak. Nice.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Two Legs vs. Peg Leg: O' Connery Edition
Okay, I'll admit that I didn't intend for the title of this to actually affect what I was going to write. But, I figured that comparing the two stories based on how I saw them and the author's intention was better than summarizing the plots. Less boring.
Anyhow, I enjoyed reading both of these stories. If there was a story to suggest, I would have gone with A Good Man Is Hard To Find. I suppose I find this story more fascinating than Good Country People because it was far more easy to comprehend (I feel bad for saying that) and it was more interesting plot-wise. I understand the message that O' Connor was trying to get across in Good Country People, but I found it boring and not particularly fitting. It was just kind of strange and awkward.
In A Good Man Is Hard To Find, I wasn't surprised at all to see that the old man was, in fact, the Misfit. I found that was one of the problems to O' Conner's stories- they were both fairly predictable. I knew that Hulga was being tricked in Good Country People, and I knew that the old man was the Misfit in A Good Man Is Hard To Find. I didn't know, however, that the family was going to be killed.
Is it bad that I liked when the grandmother died at the end? Well, I didn't like it- I don't like it when anyone dies ever- I just found her particularly annoying and hypocritical. Perhaps that was the author's intention- to allow the audience to view the world like the Misfit does. Which is why we weren't unbelievably sympathetic when the family was murdered.
BREAKTHROUGH?
Anyhow, I enjoyed reading both of these stories. If there was a story to suggest, I would have gone with A Good Man Is Hard To Find. I suppose I find this story more fascinating than Good Country People because it was far more easy to comprehend (I feel bad for saying that) and it was more interesting plot-wise. I understand the message that O' Connor was trying to get across in Good Country People, but I found it boring and not particularly fitting. It was just kind of strange and awkward.
In A Good Man Is Hard To Find, I wasn't surprised at all to see that the old man was, in fact, the Misfit. I found that was one of the problems to O' Conner's stories- they were both fairly predictable. I knew that Hulga was being tricked in Good Country People, and I knew that the old man was the Misfit in A Good Man Is Hard To Find. I didn't know, however, that the family was going to be killed.
Is it bad that I liked when the grandmother died at the end? Well, I didn't like it- I don't like it when anyone dies ever- I just found her particularly annoying and hypocritical. Perhaps that was the author's intention- to allow the audience to view the world like the Misfit does. Which is why we weren't unbelievably sympathetic when the family was murdered.
BREAKTHROUGH?
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Existentialism in REAL LIFE
Existentialism is the philosophical belief that the experiences of an individual shape that person as whole, influencing how they act and think. I strongly believe in this philosophy. I may not live my life through it, but I have noticed that certain types of experiences do change poeple. Unfortunately, I've noticed that the experiences are more negative and people learn negatively from that.
For example, when my father was about 20 years old, his mother died. When he learns this, his attitude on life turns for the worse and suddenly he's one of the more cynical people of the world, who doesn't trust people and believes everyone is out to destroy him in their own self interests. Or so I've been told. He's calmed down a little since he's had kids. That experience in his life shaped his attitude for a very long time until he was able to cope with the loss.
I've learned from my own physical experiences as well. Not to be cliche, but, yes, volleyball is the main reason why I have the attitude I have. I've had good coaches and bad ones, ones that loved to scream, and give me the silent treatment. Players and how I personally play affect my confidence- not just when playing volleyball but in all aspects of life. If I can't do it on the court, why should I be able to do it in the classroom or any social situation? I'm a confident/sarcastic person because I've learned to brush off the small stuff and come back with a vengeance. It's simply who I am now, and I don't think any decent amount of phsyciatric care can fix that.
For example, when my father was about 20 years old, his mother died. When he learns this, his attitude on life turns for the worse and suddenly he's one of the more cynical people of the world, who doesn't trust people and believes everyone is out to destroy him in their own self interests. Or so I've been told. He's calmed down a little since he's had kids. That experience in his life shaped his attitude for a very long time until he was able to cope with the loss.
I've learned from my own physical experiences as well. Not to be cliche, but, yes, volleyball is the main reason why I have the attitude I have. I've had good coaches and bad ones, ones that loved to scream, and give me the silent treatment. Players and how I personally play affect my confidence- not just when playing volleyball but in all aspects of life. If I can't do it on the court, why should I be able to do it in the classroom or any social situation? I'm a confident/sarcastic person because I've learned to brush off the small stuff and come back with a vengeance. It's simply who I am now, and I don't think any decent amount of phsyciatric care can fix that.
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