Blog # 6

Firstly i would like to thank our Professor for this Blogspot.com idea. Having our assignments due on one web page which is capable of being viewed by our peers is awesome. Its easier and much less stressful to blog our assignments than to write the whole process out, print, hand in, get back with grade, re-write and so on. I really like reading my classmates intake and opinions on the literature we have read. My ideas become much better depictions through their opinions and my own as well. Its also much easier to refer back to what ive written, and even helped me with the midterm. Knowing that other people might be reading my blog does not change the way i write them. I'm already used to writing stuff on xanga/myspace/facebook that its pretty easy and normal for me. Also, since my career choice is to become an English professor, reading other peoples entries is liek practice for whats to come. I do analyze a lot and correct individuals grammar, but dont take it as harsh criticism, its just the way i work. =]

Blog #5

Lupe Fiasco is a young hip-hop/rap artist who i personally like. His lyrical verses are insightful and deliver more of a message of whats going on in the world rather than how big his rims on his "whip" is. This song i chose, "Little Weapon" is from his "The Cool" album. I usually just download the music i like from the internet but rarely if i really like the album i'll actually pay for it. This song kind of speaks to me about individuals (more than likely about little kids that don't know any better) that have struggled in life and live a certain way to get by or live up to the standards of our society. Its political, about war, the government and living through all the pain and struggle. Are you man enough to fight for what you believe in or are you smart enough to acknowledge that the government had led you to believe that you are fighting for a better and more peaceful world? This song is hard, period. I could go on about every little aspect of imagery through his lyrical verses, but i think i already got to the point. Enjoy the video, and listen to "Hello/Goodbye" by Lupe Fiasco as well, it makes me think about 2012. -Mia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ra9DVewxdo

Blog #4

Throughout literature, many authors have used their life experiences, views on the environment and government to illustrate their ideas and creative literature skills. In the story, "the chrysanthemums", Elisa, Henry and the stranger help illustrate gender criticism. Gender criticism is used to express critcism in gender in ways that we commonly conceive it to be. For example, the woman is to be in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, while the man should be working and supporting his family. Elisa's character is presented as strong, masculine and not really in a female form of attraction. Henry compliments her flower garden but not his wife. The stranger that came to the ranch when Henry was gone was able to easily infiltrate Elisa's invisible guard and trick her into getting work through her by appealing to the female side of Elisa. Elisa probably rarely feels feminine about herself so the stranger had it easy to trick her. After being used she was upset but realized that in the outside world all men are the same.

Blog#3

I choose the story "The Things the carried" by TimO'Brian. The reason i chose this story is because i found it the most detailed and interesting and easier to relate to through a political, emotional and superficial view. The characteri found most interesting was Kiowa. His undermining nature to his fellow platoon was bothersome but understandable in a negative way. Negative due to his dislike of the white man, and being that most of his platoon consisted of white individuals. When describing the shot and instant death of Ted Lavender, he described it in such a blunt and point blank way as if he had no care in the world for any one but himself. I feel that that was due to the way he was raised with his grandmothers dislike of the white man and the hatchet he was provided with from his father. I think that Ted Lavenders death didn't effect him too much because being in combat has numbed him to those sort of aspects. And maybe he wasn't raised to be sensitive to many things; possibly even to not react emotionally to death to save his own sanity.