It's the end of the beginning

For this image I thought 'Something new but familiar in something well known'
How do I look at literature differently? Yeah I definitely look at it differently than I did before. I always knew that people would read classics and rip them apart word for word to find every meaning behind every word. I never did that. I would consume the book for the story. So reading these books, looking for the meanings and the messages behind the story was new and different. I actually like it sometimes. I see now what people think of the world around them and how they put it into their stories. 1984; George Orwell was describing the world around them, the issues with the government. In that case I believe everyone knew what was going on, but in other cases the people might not; for example the Hunger Games. I read that story last semester and I loved it. I still do. Yet reading it through a second time and being asked different questions about how it compares with to our society made me think about it more. Survivor and other such reality TV shows how are those different from the Hunger Games? The Hunger Games are (for the most part) there to provide amusement for the audience. The audience could help influence the outcome of the games as well. American Idol, Survivor, aren’t these shows the same? Yet the first time I read that book I never made those connections, but the second time around looking for things like that I noticed it. It’s scary to think that we are doing almost the same thing, yet does our world care? Just like those watching the Hunger Games. I’m looking at the media and the world a little differently seeing these connections. The same with Feed and Fahrenheit 451, will we be like them one day? Is the road we are taking today lead us there? Where we talk about nothing, where we don’t understand what real knowledge is and how to use it for the better. Will we backtrack and be worse off because we gained knowledge? It’s hard to say. People are always saying the younger generation is horrible and they aren’t learning as much etc. I wonder about all these things, then I think of all the other novels that I haven’t looked at for their underlying messages. Then I think ‘Oh man, we are going to all die in a nuclear explosion.’ But I’m excited to reread novels and try to make comparisons and find out what their messages are. What else do all these great stories have to say other than their amazing outer shells.

No Books. *cry*

I would cry if I could never read another book in my entire life. I would be bored out of my mind with out books. My summers have been spent reading one to two books a week. That is all I do; read, read, and read. Not to mention what the world would be like without books. History, Science, Math, knowledge in general is all kept in books. Everything would be lost. Our governments could do whatever they want. We would be blind to everything around us. With books and literacy comes the free will and thought of the people. Just look at our history. When the poor started to become literate, they overthrew their old governments and set into motion a fair government.
I'm really not fully certain exactly how we "burn books" everyday. Some books are censored. Many popular books have been censored from grade schools. Some of these include Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, Twilight, and other stories. I read a book in 6th grade called "The Confessions of Charlotte Doyle". There were very violent parts in that book about rape and it freaked me out. So my mom tried to get the school to not entirely remove the book, but just only let older kids be able to read it. I understand age limits on certain books, especially in elementary or middle school. But banning books from High School or from everyone is a completely different scenario.

Hunger Games

I loved the Hunger Games. It was a great book and well written. I was constantly on edge wondering what was going to happen. The main character never dies especially if there is another book, but how she survives is what kept my attention drawn. This novel is similar to the other novels we've read because it's attacking the government and going against what they say or demand. My reaction to the love triangle of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale was really intense. I say that her and Gale should be together. I liked Peeta, but her and Gale have been closer a lot longer. Also at the end with the turn of events saying that only one person would now win, I couldn't imagine Katniss or Peeta turning on each other. I was sure that something else would kill one or the other, like one of the dogs or something like that. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Project Runway: Andre

This is the link for part of the show I was talking about. It wasn't loading correctly so here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzUH6wjU46A

Reality TV Shows

I hate reality TV shows. They are dumb. I don't like them at all. Yet I do have to admit I greatly enjoy one show; Project Runway. The best part of this episode is of Santino, Andre, and Tim. I always laugh at this one. Santino mimics Tim and talks about Tim and Andre's "relationship" which is completely non-existent. It's so funny. Then Tim hears about it and mentions it and embarrasses Santino. No one gets mad at each other or anything like that, it's just all fun and games. That's what friends do, laugh with each other about stuff. This is a real thing. I sometimes joke around about my friends and we all laugh about it. Sometimes they pick on me. It's all in good humor, nothing mean, nasty, or rude about it. I like this show for the funny moments in it but mainly enjoy it because of the chalenges and the final products the designers come up with. The crazy outfits they come up with are just great!
Gabler wrote an article in 2000 about reality TV shows. His point about how no one can predict the outcome of the show I have to agree with. I love looking at the designers and seeing what they can do. I enjoy trying to guess who would win that round. Yet in this show there is no sex drive that Gabler talks about, nor am I interested in seeing people fight etc in a relationship. I think those things should be kept to yourself. No one in the entire world needs to know that you were arguing with your boyfriend because he didn't pick something up. That's just stupid.

The issue of Privacy

I would say that there are certain ways we have lost our privacy in the world today and that which we have given up to feel "safe". When I am emailing someone, different advertisements pop up on the side of the screen that deal with what I'm talking about. Yeah they might just be looking for key words, but that still means they can read what I'm sending. I'm not freaking out that some government sight is reading everything I send, but sometimes I wonder if a stalker would hack in and read all my stuff. I'm not giving that freely, well it most likely says something along those lines in the fine print of the "I agree to these Terms" that no one ever reads. Yet beyond that we have knowingly and freely given up some of our privacy to make sure we are safe. For example, cameras in the mall. They could potentially catch different really embarassing things. For example the girl who was texting and walked/fell right into the Berkshire Mall's fountain. Yet that's not what those cameras are for. They are there so if there is a physical fight they can send police to stop it or if a child is kidnapped while in the mall they might be able to catch the criminal. Those sorts of things. We have given up our privacy in those cases to make sure that we are protected. That kind of protection I am fine with, as long as no one goes overboard with it.

Silence, beautiful Silence.

My name is Alana. I’m stuck in this hospital with Titus and Violet. As I’m Violet’s older sister, I didn’t receive the Feed till I was 12; we both got it at the same time. When I first got it, I didn’t know what to do! There was so much to look through! But it got bothersome fast; all those images and items bombarding me all the time. I had gotten used to it, but now after what that old man did, they turned it off. Now it’s blissful peace and silence, just my thoughts. It was a little odd at first not having the constant buzz in my head. Now there is only silence.
I’m sitting on my bed observing the paining on the wall. I remember my mother teaching me how to paint, before she left. She wasn’t a master painter, but she had dealt with many pieces of art. I noticed the different shades of the ocean. The darker versus the lighter shades made the ocean look choppy. The brush strokes of the ocean were large and smooth, while the boat’s strokes were thinner and less noticeable. It was beautiful, something I only wish I could create. Nothing like this is ever created anymore. It’s such a loss to society. Then Titus interrupted my thoughts by mentioning that he couldn’t see why someone would paint a picture like that and that it was meaningless. I honestly don’t understand how I got stuck with these kids.

The first one is a picture of a smore we created :) The second image is of us at the top of the mountains after taking the deer trail. From the left it is Mary and Caronline (kids our age from the family we camp with) then it is Mike, Sarah, and Me (my siblings). The third picture is of Mary and Me who tied up my brothers tent because he would sleep in till 11. Also that week he had tried to play some tricks on us and they all failed, but we were getting back at him :D

No more Technology?

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan- like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms…” Henry Thoreau.
When my class was asked the questions, if we were able to live without technology and would we give it up completely for a whole year (and go live in the woods), I had to think about this. I would gladly give up technology, but no one else would be. My parents would try to call me to find my phone turned off. I wouldn’t be able to get the majority of my school work done. Half of my free time is spent of the computer which I sometimes tend to regret. Yet I have lived without technology and without want of it. Not for a whole year like Henry Thoreau did, but for a week at a time. I’ve done this on many occasions. My youth group had a rule that on our retreats we would not have any cell phones, mp3 players, or any sort of technology like that. I’ve also been on camping trips with my family where we had no cell phone service and we brought along no other technologies of that sort. I have to say that those were some of the best weeks of my life. When camping we did so much. We were in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and it is the most beautiful place ever. During storms we would listen to the thunder almost literally roll down the valley. It was the most amazing sound ever. While tubing down the creek we saw two otter once and every year we see two bald eagles flying up and down the creek. We’ve had a bear walk through our campsite and down across the creek. Deer have bounded out in front of us while biking and if we hadn’t stopped we would have hit them they were that close to us. My brother found and took the rest of us up a deer trail that lead up the side of the mountains. It took so long to get there and at times we weren’t really following a path at all, but at the clearing at the top, the sight was beautiful. On the way down we found a patch of wild blueberry’s that were amazing. As Thoreau says “I did not wish to live what was not life…” Outside those woods I feel like I’m just going through the motions, following the trends, and sort of living life. Yet when I’m there with my family (I couldn’t do it by myself) I can feel nothing but wonder and awe. If I could spend my life like that, I would. Yet I would only do it with my family. I would miss them and my friends too much.

“The Dumbest Generation”

Mark Bauerlein wrote a book on my generation or in his words “the dumbest generation”. I disagree with many of his points. He claims that we are “recklessly distracted” and constantly filled with “impatience”. What about all the other teen generations? What did flappers parents say about them? What about the teens at Woodstock? My generation isn’t the only or the first to be labeled under these terms. Even I am looking at the kids in middle school saying I never acted that way when I was their age!
“America’s youth know virtually nothing about history and politics.” Bauerlein said. As if everyone his age knows all about history. Plus, they have had more time on this earth to hear and learn about these events. On top of that he needs to take into consideration that different people learn differently. We see this more today than when our great grandparents were in school. Three generations back they didn’t have the opportunities we have today. Some didn’t stay in school long enough to graduate high school and very few of those who did went on to college. If they weren’t on the top they didn’t keep going. Their families needed them to help. How much did they have to learn compared to what we learn? How advanced are we in science today? History is only slim pickings in comparison to what other things we have to learn. We have Science, Math, English, History, Geography, Art, and Music. The same sorts of genre of classes but get into today’s high school classes. You can take Biology 2 or 3. There is physics, agriculture, chemistry, English, French, German, Latin, Chinese, Shakespeare, Literature, World History, American History, European History, and so many more. I didn’t even get into the new technology classes. Did our great grandparents have these classes? I don’t think so. Our brain capacity is just as much as theirs was. Yet the expectations for us just keep rising and it’s hard to keep up. Yes, we should be pushed. The world needs to remember that even though we have so much new technology it doesn’t mean that our brains are just as large as a motherboard.
That is only the tip of the iceberg. Bauerlein claims that “social life is a powerful temptation.” As if he didn’t have a social life when he was a teen?! Ok, maybe he didn’t, but we have more access to each other through the web and all the new technology. Since when did having friends become looked down upon? He also pointed out during a lecture to a body of students that “You are six times more likely to know who the latest American Idol is than you are to know who the Speaker of the House is.” Personally, I know neither the Speaker nor the latest American Idol. I can shoot out a fair number of politician’s names, but not their official position or party. I can name even fewer American Idols. Does this mean I’m a failure?! I believe my talents and ideas lie elsewhere.
I believe that Mark Bauerlein is over exaggerating his point. I don’t think that he’s completely wrong. I’m pretty confident that some of my generations are that dumb. Yet when he points his finger at the entire generation, I get offended. I can’t sit around and let him mar our names. I do not fit the description he paints nor do any of my friends. I won’t stand for someone who doesn’t know me to label me.

"Some people you can never please
You might as well just let them be
They mock everything not their own
From their imaginary throne
But I won't bow down,
even if the whole world thinks I'm crazy" ~Superchick

Seconday Skin

The documentary “Second Skin” really hit some nerves with me. MMO games really take up someone’s life and when they look back, they call it a waste of their time. I’m not saying that these games are completely horrible but those playing them need to remember the saying “everything in moderation.” Yes, these games in a way were created so that we could get our minds out of the real world. It’s ok to “leave” this world for a little bit but this is still the real world and you still live in it. Personally I read and write to forget about what’s going on in the RL to an extent. Gordon Walton said in the video that “Humans want to be more than what we are.” This is true. When I read a fantasy novel (a really good one) for a time I believe I am living that story, that I am a main character. Anthony one of the WOW gamers said that “[it] completely takes your head away from anything else.” It’s true. They do. There just has to be a reasonable line drawn.
That reasonable line is drawn from person to person. Andy another one of the WOW players was married and he and his wife were expecting twins. He worked and when he got home his wife would have his game loaded and logged on for him so he could start playing as soon as he got home. He took most of his vacation for the release of another WOW game instead of saving the majority for when his wife gave birth. I would have laid my foot down on that one. To me, if you care more about a game than me you’re out. This might also be because of my own personal experiences. I won’t go into detail but my brother was addicted to video games as well as had anger issues which my family is still trying to recover from. If someone would rather spend their time on a video game and I’m not talking one, two hours but 8 or 9 a day, then I wouldn’t be with them. Andy’s wife ended up having complications during birth and he had to go back to work soon after and leave her by herself. On top of that he still expects to have many hours a day playing his games. I’m offended by that. I could see that she was to. He was becoming a father which is a full time job and yet he wasn’t willing to cut down on his playing hours. As a female I was offended for her that he wasn’t planning on helping her the way he should.
The book Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn spoke on these matters as well, but more of the internet in general. “Internet use itself appeared to cause a decline in psychological well-being” was what one study they looked at stated, which to me makes total sense. When I’m on the computer all day or even for a few hours at a time I feel bad afterwards. I can’t explain it. I enjoy watching movies, but if I see too many in a row I feel like, a slug. Not just slow, but sticky and gooey (metaphorically) inside and out. I can’t explain it, I enjoyed those movies, but I still feel yucky. I also know my brother had the worst temper when my parents threw him off the computer. Truthfully I also see that I was most likely a little short tempered afterwards as well. Whatever specifically causes this isn’t helping our society at all. Yet everything in moderation doesn’t hurt us. So we don’t have to completely stop using the internet and our computers. We just need to limit ourselves and keep an eye on our own odd emotional swings so we stay mentally healthy.


"Do robots dream of electric sheep? I need to live my dreams, not just in my sleep" Superchick

"Do or die, you'll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Though you try, you'll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part"

A simple Introduction

Hey! My name is Elizabeth. I'm from around Reading, PA and I graduated from Conrad Weiser High School. Right now I am majoring in Mid-Level Education. From the list of books that we were given and the Blog we have to start I am very excited to start this class. In my spare time I try to have a good book in my hands. Right now I’m in the process of reading the Iliad and I’m also rereading the Narnia Chronicles. I love fantasy and science fiction novels but I also enjoy reading the classics and other genres. My favorite authors are J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, J.R. Tolkien, Jane Austin, Terry Brooks, and others. To me, literture can be defined as any writen and published creative story. Most times though when I picture literature, I think of classic novels more than I would teen girl drama stories. Literature should be well writen and sometimes if not most of the time thought provoking. I like to think about what the author is telling me.
I also love to play my flute, write, and watch good movies. My all-time favorite movies are Braveheart, Inception, and Tron. In the music department I listen to everything from Christian Rock to, yes, a little bit of screaming now and then. It all depends on my mood if I feel like listening to Celtic women, Relient K, or Breaking Benjamin.