Change of Mind: Heart of Darkness

I began to read this novel with a negative attitude, similarly to many other of my classmates. Its daunting reputation set me up for disaster with this book. And as I read each page and gathered more information, I got more and more lost and confused. I had no idea what was happening even though I struggled through every word of the text. My reading quiz grade reflected what was happening, and if I had any intention of passing the test, I knew something had to change.

After an extremely low F and a few difficult nights of reading, I realized that our class discussions were the answer to my problems. Sentences and words with no meaning were brought to light and the true meanings and themes were discovered. The novel is now easier to understand and I am able to appreciate all that it offers.

This just goes to show the power of your peers and the thoughts of others. When you share your confusions with others, as we did in our small groups, one often finds others in the same situation. As cliche as it sounds, two heads are truly better than one.

Sure, discussions may be long and somewhat boring at times. But their is lots of value to them. Simply let yourself sit back and listen as the powerful ideas of this novel unfold around you. You will find that what seems nearly impossible can become understandable.

Connection: Postmodernism and the Classroom

While reading Heart of Darkness, we have discovered the effects of postmodernist thinking on the world. We know is affects our surroundings and our government, but how does it directly affect us? How are our own lives influenced by postmodernism? Sometimes it is difficult to trace the topics of our class discussions back to our own lives, and this is why this relationship is so important.

Postmodernism affects our lives in that we find elements of postmodernism in the way our classroom works. This was especially displayed in our poetry unit. While reading poems, we focus on the multiple points of view and multiple worlds. We discuss the importance of our culture and the large role it plays. We also question our position as humans with that of nature.

Thinking in a postmodern way has been all that we know. Yet as we read Heart of Darkness, we begin to see the real effects of the transition from modernism to postmodernism. Recognizing this major shift in thinking is important to us because its shows us how we have progressed. The connection between postmodernism and our classroom allows for more insight because we can actually see the methods of this way of thinking in our everyday life in something as simple as going to school.

Metacognition: First Semester

This first semester has taught me that there are two ways to handle our English class. Some find it easier to slump down in their chair and completely zone out, mentally leaving the room all together. These people stare down the clock, watching the second hand ever so slowly click round and round, wanting time to fly by. On the other hand, you can remain active and actually focus. Speaking aloud or avidly listening, these people know what is going on. They know there is never enough time to discuss what truly matters.

Sure, the first option seems infinitely easier than the second. Everyone has those days when they can't deal with school at the moment. But, in reality, you have to sit class no matter what your situation, so it truly is your choice what you make of it. Letting something as beneficial as a good class discussion slip by unnoticed is much worse than being bored for an hour. During this first semester, I have grown as a thinker. Personally, I prefer to take the easy way out of things. Yet this mindset is changing, for I have realized that you miss far too much learning and profound thoughts through the easy way.

I know that I still don't speak very often in class. But I feel as though it is unrealistic to determine whether someone is active in a discussion solely by the amount of times they raise their hand. Your thoughts are what really matter, and being constantly and actively listening allows you to be present in class. For me personally, I often have those philosophical thoughts, yet choose to keep them to myself. These beliefs are often unique to me, something personal that doesn't need to be shared in the classroom. When teachers count how many times a student speaks, they are trying to measure the unmeasurable.

This does not mean that I refuse to attempt to participate more, for that is something that I know I must improve on. I have a long journey ahead of me to become a better student, and as each semester passes, I am closer and closer to becoming the best student I know I can be.

Blogging Around

This entry is in response to Graicey's iMedia post about the Charlie Brown Christmas and the meaning it brings to the holiday.

This is totally something that you would write about! Charlie Brown totally provides backing and meaning towards the ever cheesy 'true meaning of Christmas.' The holiday has evolved hand in hand with society, becoming more and more focused on the commercial edge rather than family and togetherness. Now that we are nearing the big day, its easy this taking place. For example, think of 93.9 on the radio. Every night at seven, the station streams Delilah, a popular talk show. As corny as it sounds, every caller on the show is told to slow down and take a break from the stress of the hectic holidays to appreciate the simpler things. Although her message is often repeated and easily gets old, it is an important one that brings us back to the real essence of Christmas.

This entry is in response to Chelsea's iMedia post about how one can find meaning in cliches.

I definitely agree with you! The repetition of cliches often get old and boring very quickly, which makes them painful to listen to. But when these sayings were originated, the meaning was fresh. These meanings are now hidden behind words that people don't even think about anymore. Because of the season, a common example of this is the phrase 'the true meaning of Christmas.' What does this even mean anymore? It is difficult to see the true meaning of Christmas in our society today, but this phrase can help us find it. When you think about what this season is all about, what is true, you get past your commercialized surroundings and see real joy. Even though the actual words are over used, the meanings behind them never grow old.

iMedia: Holst's The Planets

Being a relative of the famous composer Gustav Holst (he dropped the von off of his last name), his powerful music has always been of high importance in my family. In his most known work, The Planets, the Jupiter movement in this link is truly inspiring in our everyday lives.

This movement progresses through many different stages, each one bringing new feelings and emotions. The piece starts off very bold with all sections of the orchestra blaring. Towards the middle (around minute three on the link) of this movement we hear calmness and tranquility. Smooth rhythms and slurred notes allow the audience to feel at ease. Yet the piece ends with a bang (around minute six), bringing back the power of the horns and strings. This can most definitely be considered an emotional roller coaster.

The planet of Jupiter itself is one of raw power, with its enormous size and breathtaking color. It is frequently viewed in the night sky, its light casting all the way down to earth. It may be difficult to relate to something as vast as Jupiter, but the emotions the piece creates are more important than the reference to the planet. The Jupiter movement matters because it illustrates our lives today. As humans, we experience many different things, each creating their own set of emotions. They greatly vary, as we see in the movement of Jupiter.

People today often underestimate the power of classical music and prefer the modern sounds of today's pop culture. Yet classical music has always been there, inspiring the many generations that have been lucky enough to hear it. Sometimes its nice to take a step back from the rush of today and simply listen to the sounds of the past and let your mind wander.

Connection: King Lear and King Triton

The king of the sea in The Little Mermaid and the king of Britain possess many of the same qualities. The contexts of the two might seem hard to compare, but the relationships with these leaders and their daughters can put things in a new perspective.

Both kings have great power and both want the very best for their daughters. Yet with this power comes many rules, rules that can easily be broken by rebellious daughters, in this case both Cordelia and Ariel. In The Little Mermaid, Ariel disobeys her father when interacting with the humans, something forbidden for the merpeople. In King Lear, Cordelia rebels against her father by refusing to express her love to him merely for the purpose of inheriting his wealth.

Despite the actions of these daughters, both Kings still have love in their hearts. These relationships matter because by examining the fatherly side of these powerful leaders, we can better understand their actions, which will ultimately help us comprehend the whole story. Triton is willing to give his life for his daughter despite her actions because of love. Lear feels immense regret from his rude actions towards Cordelia because of love. Even the power of being a king cannot harm the father and daughter relationships of King Lear and King Triton.

When we compare King Lear and King Triton, we can see that the unrealistic situations in The Little Mermaid show how unreal and abstract the events are in King Lear. The rash actions and decisions of the characters in King Lear can be hard to imagine, but when we consider the similarities to those of children's stories, it gives some meaning and reason behind them. Actions like this include when Gloucester's eyes are actually pulled out of his head, when Kent is willing to disguise himself to retain a relationship with Lear, and when Edmund betrays his brother and turns him into a beggar.

Despite this being my second Disney blog post, the characters in their films are full of problems that can be compared with the problems of characters in almost anything, including Shakespeare. They give an abstracted view of reality, which is often the very subject of great pieces of literature.

360 Degrees: Party in the U.S.A.

Party in the U.S.A. is currently the number two song on iTunes, and has been for quite a while now. The play count for this song is currently 129 on my computer. It's on every girl's iPod. It's played at every party. But why is a teeny bopper song like this dominating the radio? What makes this song so special?

People constantly criticize Miley Cyrus for her inappropriate and trashy behavior, myself included. Maybe some people are drawn in by this, wanting to make fun and laugh her. They use her songs as an outlet for frustration and disgust. I am guilty of this too, for one can always find something to laugh at in her music videos or shows. If you just read some of the iTunes comments on Party in the U.S.A., you can find plenty of examples of this.

It is difficult to take anything Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus seriously. Listen to some of the lyrics:

So I put my hands up
They’re playing my song,
And the butterflies fly away
Noddin’ my head like yeah
Moving my hips like yeah

What does "like yeah" even mean? And how can you rhyme with the same word? If this is what music has become, then that is pretty sad on our part. What does this say about our society?

I am curious about the other perspectives of this song. As I listen to it right now, I realize that it has a catchy beat. It can put you in a good mood, pump you up for a party, or simply make you want to dance. This is why it has become so popular.

This song can be viewed as a sad representation of the youth, a feel good pop tune, just another Miley song, or anything in between. These views relate because they represent different people and different moods. They show how people both blend and clash. I'm not saying that life can be viewed as a Miley Cyrus song, god no. How you view it is your own choice, your own perspective. And that's all that anyone can ever do.