This movie was about a Cuban writer, Reinaldo Arenas who was also a homosexual, during the time of the revolution. They did not accept anyone different than them or against the “cause”. He had to do his writing in secret and find people to smuggle his work out so that it could be published. This movie was sad to me. He was never able to just be himself. He had to hide everything, from his writing to his sexuality.
Arenas was finally able to get free from his country that would not allow him to write and move to the United States. He was free to write but fell victim to the AIDS virus. Despite all of the odds against him he was still able to write amazing work. It always seems our situations we go through in our life fuel our work. This makes for great writing when passion and belief are behind.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Cultural Opp #2 Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love was a movie I normally would not rent or buy. It is set back in the times of sword fighting and when chivalry of men was present. It started off kind of slow with men arguing about money and a man being tortured, not something normally of my interest. Once Shakespeare is entered into the movie it becomes a little more interesting, only because of the poetic way he speaks. Most women go gaga over romantic men and a love story.
Once the movie went on more it was interesting to see how Shakespeare was portrayed as a man of little power. Today he is a legend and his writings and plays are taught in every English class. He is known by all as an extraordinary play writer and poet. It was also neat to see how while writing Romeo and Juliet he was going through the same thing in his real life with a love. Life experiences are what prompt the poetry, plays or music. I think that’s what makes it so great; the writer’s or musician’s heart is in it which shows through the work.
As mentioned this movie was not something I normally would have rented but I am glad I did. I enjoyed seeing Shakespeare in his era creating one of his most well known pieces, Romeo and Juliet. In the future I will take these types of movies into consideration when wanting to watch something new. Watching the life of a legendary writer brings him to life for me and I am better able to understand him.
Once the movie went on more it was interesting to see how Shakespeare was portrayed as a man of little power. Today he is a legend and his writings and plays are taught in every English class. He is known by all as an extraordinary play writer and poet. It was also neat to see how while writing Romeo and Juliet he was going through the same thing in his real life with a love. Life experiences are what prompt the poetry, plays or music. I think that’s what makes it so great; the writer’s or musician’s heart is in it which shows through the work.
As mentioned this movie was not something I normally would have rented but I am glad I did. I enjoyed seeing Shakespeare in his era creating one of his most well known pieces, Romeo and Juliet. In the future I will take these types of movies into consideration when wanting to watch something new. Watching the life of a legendary writer brings him to life for me and I am better able to understand him.
Cultural Opp #1 Art Exhibit
For my first Cultural opportunity I visited the Art Gallery at ICC. When I walked into the Gallery, I am surrounded by splashes of color with some black on white canvas. There were probably 16 different pieces of artwork throughout. As I looked at each piece it seemed to be abstract type artwork. In majority of the paintings there was a main focus that was in color and then in the background where other images that were in black.
For example there was a painting that was called shoes. In this painting there were a pair of shoes that were painted blue on the bottom of the page. At the top a city is drawn in black ink, other images appeared in the center as if to separate the shoes from the city. On all the paintings the titles were backwards inside blocks, reminded me of the blocks that children play with.
At first I didn’t really get the meaning of the paintings, well at least what the Artist intended. After reading the Artist’s statement it made sense what he was trying to show in his artwork. He had about 20 flash cards of first words that were his sons. It was like he took his sons perception on the words and drew them abstractly. Most young children don’t think clearly and are all over the place so he did an awesome job of bringing to life the “first words” of children.
For example there was a painting that was called shoes. In this painting there were a pair of shoes that were painted blue on the bottom of the page. At the top a city is drawn in black ink, other images appeared in the center as if to separate the shoes from the city. On all the paintings the titles were backwards inside blocks, reminded me of the blocks that children play with.
At first I didn’t really get the meaning of the paintings, well at least what the Artist intended. After reading the Artist’s statement it made sense what he was trying to show in his artwork. He had about 20 flash cards of first words that were his sons. It was like he took his sons perception on the words and drew them abstractly. Most young children don’t think clearly and are all over the place so he did an awesome job of bringing to life the “first words” of children.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Letter to Stephanie
Dear Stephanie,
Well I thought since the first blog we put out on our page was a “letter to Stephanie” I thought very fitting to end with one. Except this time It won’t be me telling you about myself as hopefully over the last few months you have gotten to know me some. I can not believe the semester is coming to an end, and it is even crazier to believe all the work we have done. When I realized our last assignment was right around the corner I was in disbelief. As you know this class has been very challenging for me having a little one at home. I think to myself if I did not have a child to take care of I probably would have done A LOT better on my papers. I did not put all the time needed into my work as it shows through my writing.
I also wanted to mention how much I have enjoyed being in your class………..I’m not trying to be a brown noser. I just know from being an underappreciated mother and wife I like to let others know how much I appreciate the things they do for me. Your class was definitely not easy by any means but I believe you are very fair in the things you do. I would like to take you in the future but fortunately I do not need any more English for my degree, yes I said fortunately ha ha……….As I have mentioned through my writings I don’t care for writing, but if you were to teach something else I’d be there J.
I hope to see you around ICC in the future when I return after my daughter starts school in three years. I know to some it may seem weird that I am thanking you for “doing” your job, but I know a lot of teachers who do not do anything for students after school hours. You have been there whenever we needed you even when you are at home. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Colleen E. Mathias
Well I thought since the first blog we put out on our page was a “letter to Stephanie” I thought very fitting to end with one. Except this time It won’t be me telling you about myself as hopefully over the last few months you have gotten to know me some. I can not believe the semester is coming to an end, and it is even crazier to believe all the work we have done. When I realized our last assignment was right around the corner I was in disbelief. As you know this class has been very challenging for me having a little one at home. I think to myself if I did not have a child to take care of I probably would have done A LOT better on my papers. I did not put all the time needed into my work as it shows through my writing.
I also wanted to mention how much I have enjoyed being in your class………..I’m not trying to be a brown noser. I just know from being an underappreciated mother and wife I like to let others know how much I appreciate the things they do for me. Your class was definitely not easy by any means but I believe you are very fair in the things you do. I would like to take you in the future but fortunately I do not need any more English for my degree, yes I said fortunately ha ha……….As I have mentioned through my writings I don’t care for writing, but if you were to teach something else I’d be there J.
I hope to see you around ICC in the future when I return after my daughter starts school in three years. I know to some it may seem weird that I am thanking you for “doing” your job, but I know a lot of teachers who do not do anything for students after school hours. You have been there whenever we needed you even when you are at home. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Colleen E. Mathias
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Slow Down!!!
Parking lot drivers, it seems people lose all sense of how to drive when they enter a parking lot. It does not matter where I go, people either drive way too fast for a parking lot or fail to yield to pedestrians. I especially notice this at Wal-Mart and the ICC parking lots.
I don’t know how many times I have walked within a crosswalk and drivers disregard the signs that say “it’s the law, yield to pedestrians within a crosswalk.” We are not in Europe; those signs are put there for a reason.
Or for people that fly out of their parking space, slow down!! I drive slowly when pulling out of my parking space and I am glad I do. One day when leaving Wal-Mart I was about to pull out but took my time, thank goodness, because a little boy dropped something in front of my car and bent over to pick it up. Since I was taking my time I thankfully did not hit him.
For the safety of people, please take your time when you are driving. It would be horrible to have known you killed someone because you were in a rush. Slow Down!!
I don’t know how many times I have walked within a crosswalk and drivers disregard the signs that say “it’s the law, yield to pedestrians within a crosswalk.” We are not in Europe; those signs are put there for a reason.
Or for people that fly out of their parking space, slow down!! I drive slowly when pulling out of my parking space and I am glad I do. One day when leaving Wal-Mart I was about to pull out but took my time, thank goodness, because a little boy dropped something in front of my car and bent over to pick it up. Since I was taking my time I thankfully did not hit him.
For the safety of people, please take your time when you are driving. It would be horrible to have known you killed someone because you were in a rush. Slow Down!!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
My writing blog10
The ad analysis, this was probably the hardest paper for me so far. Probably because it makes you think critically, yeah I know that probably sounds lame. I am not saying I expect things to be easy, this was just a really hard paper. I think I choose a good ad, one that is very appealing to the eye. It is a busy ad and has fun imagery, from a man on stilts to a life size bottle of perfume.
After doing this paper I know for a fact I will never look at ads the same. I am going to pick them all apart and try to figure out how they are trying to draw in their reader’s. Hopefully this prepares me for our up-coming paper, the cultural analysis.
Writing is very challenging and I feel I am growing as I go. My sensory details are getting better and instead of just slopping stuff on paper, I try to think of how to describe things really well; I try and draw a picture for the reader in words. I do not always succeed but I am more aware of it as I write.
I definitely would not want to be a writer for a living or even an English teacher. I still feel like my writing is not like some I have seen by others that is almost poetic in a way. I wish I could write like that but I would really struggle trying to do so.
After doing this paper I know for a fact I will never look at ads the same. I am going to pick them all apart and try to figure out how they are trying to draw in their reader’s. Hopefully this prepares me for our up-coming paper, the cultural analysis.
Writing is very challenging and I feel I am growing as I go. My sensory details are getting better and instead of just slopping stuff on paper, I try to think of how to describe things really well; I try and draw a picture for the reader in words. I do not always succeed but I am more aware of it as I write.
I definitely would not want to be a writer for a living or even an English teacher. I still feel like my writing is not like some I have seen by others that is almost poetic in a way. I wish I could write like that but I would really struggle trying to do so.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
To spank or Not to spank?
Is it alright to spank your children? I have been going back and forth with whether or not I think my daughter should be spanked. In the beginning I was totally against it only because of the influence of an outside party. At times I find it hard to spank my daughter in public. I am afraid someone will call the cops on me for child abuse. Now and days it seems the whole spanking issue has gotten way out of hand. I in no way condone child abuse but there is a difference between disciplining your children and abusing them.
I think children need a spanking every now and again. I look at all the kids today and they have no respect. They walk all over their parents and threaten to call the cops if they even touch them. They need to realize the parents are in charge and they are the child and as much as they think they know “everything” their parents have been around the block a few times and actually know what’s best for them.
I am now realizing spanking is just fine as long you do it appropriately. You should never spank out of anger, come back to the punishment after you have cooled down. Spank for the more serious punishments, do not just spank for every little thing they do. Such as running into the road, or hurting an animal; things that can be harmful to themselves or others. I do not think spanking should be your only form of punishment. Another method should be used to go along with the spanking. All in all if used properly I think spanking is good and can help in disciplining children.
I think children need a spanking every now and again. I look at all the kids today and they have no respect. They walk all over their parents and threaten to call the cops if they even touch them. They need to realize the parents are in charge and they are the child and as much as they think they know “everything” their parents have been around the block a few times and actually know what’s best for them.
I am now realizing spanking is just fine as long you do it appropriately. You should never spank out of anger, come back to the punishment after you have cooled down. Spank for the more serious punishments, do not just spank for every little thing they do. Such as running into the road, or hurting an animal; things that can be harmful to themselves or others. I do not think spanking should be your only form of punishment. Another method should be used to go along with the spanking. All in all if used properly I think spanking is good and can help in disciplining children.
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