NEW INTEREST

Recently I have picked up a new interest...Che Guevara! As I am learning about him and his cause I understand that for some he is a murderer, and an enemy of the U.S, but I also understand why others admire him and his deeds. He fought for his cause, he died for his cause, and the cause died with him. I am educating myself on Che because I want to know who he really was. I have picked out some books  and plan on reading them to try to get the best understanding and least biased perspective on who Che really was.

BNW 1997 AP Essay DRAFT

Essay draft (on paper or blog) per yesterday's prompt (see below).  Additional criterion: please use three brief quotes from the text and 3-5 literary terms/techniques to illustrate/support your thesis/main points.  Due Monday, March 17.

PROMPT

1979 Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of

recognized literary merit who might, on the basis of the character’s actions alone,

be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and

why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more

sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.

Pre-Write:

John the savage

• ·      An outcast in the world state & in the reservation
•         Non-conformist
•     Educated (reads old lit.)
•          Has a sense of morality (therefore he is IMMORAL in the eyes of the World State)
• ·      Loyal to his mother & his people
• ·      Confused and frustrated w/ World State
• ·      Finds the way out by killing himself.

Examples from text

• ·      Refuses sex from Lenina and calls her a whore
• ·      He goes crazy when his mother is dying and wants to save her
• ·      Refuses soma- he would rather deal with his emotions naturally
• ·      Reads & uses old literature (Shakespeare)

Literary Techniques:

• ·      Allusion to the tempest

o   Theme is difficulty distinguishing between men & monsters

• ·      Symbolism

o   John can easily symbolize the reader and how they would react

• ·      Doubleness of character
• ·      Indirect Characterization/Direct Characterization

What makes us react sympathetically?!

• ·      The reader feels pity for him b/c he is not fully accepted anywhere
• ·      The reader can relate to him b/c he is the most “human” of them all
• ·      He is not an actual character, but is good enough to fool the reader throughout the novel
• ·      The reader agrees with John’s morals & take on life

ESSAY: (about 1hr timing)

            John the savage from Huxley’s “Brave New World” is considered to be immoral by the residents of the World State. The reader is given the impression of this through direct and indirect characterization, and is proven by the fact that John is neither fully accepted in the reservation nor world state. This confirmation is the main factor why the reader sympathizes with the savage.

            As the reader is presented to John we know he is different, because he is a native from the reservation and because of indirect characterization. “But they wouldn’t let me. They disliked me for my complexion. It’s always been like that. Always.” Tears stood in the young man’s eyes; he was ashamed and turned away. Other than being peculiar to Bernard and Lenina the reader realizes that the savage is loyal to his people and believes strongly in their rituals. The fact that he has a sense of morality and is loyal allows the reader to feel some compassion for him.

            The biggest difference between the savage and the world state residents is that John is abstinent. The Brave new world is stabilized by “everyone belongs to everyone”, and this of course means belonging to everyone in a sexual and lustful way. Unlike many of the residents, John refuses to take part in sexual intercourse without having got married first, and calls Lenina a “whore…damned whore!” This is yet another reason why the reader can easily relate to the savage. In our world today, abstinence is still considered something sacred.

            Everything the world state presses on the savage, he pushes away. He is kind and allows Bernard to use him as a stool to get to the top, but gets quickly sick of it and revolts. Though he is not a real character, there are many similarities between the reader and the savage. In some ways he symbolizes us in our world today. The allusion to Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” is the world state monsters versus the reservation men or visa versa. It can also be symbolized to represent the people of today and how many are so evil that they cannot be distinguished between men or monsters. The world state is an exaggerated version of our world today. The savages from the reservation only form some of our population. For that reason is that the reader rallies John on throughout the novel, because they seem themselves in him. They do not want to finish their journey with their feet dangling “South-south-west, south, south-east, east…”

INSPIRING THE MINI US- Mckenzie Junior High Presentation

Today Tina, Java, Erik, and I went to Mckenzie Junior High to speak to the 8th graders! We spoke for about 30-45 minutes. Seems like a long time, but we actually wanted more time! We also spoke to an intervention class and were able to motivate the students from that class as well. We spoke about the  transition between Junior high and high school, how to get involved, and how to stay motivated. Going back was a surreal experience. I felt so lost...yeah in a school that only has about 350 students. WHAT?! Flashbacks were taking over my mind! The only words that came out were "Oh my gosh, remember that?, wow! it looks so different!, They are so tiny?" Speaking to our fellow community's children/teenagers was a great experience. I can not express how near and dear to my heart the experience was. As I glanced around the room, the same room I once had class in, and the desk the students sat at, the same one I once sat at while listening to seniors give an AVID presentation I thought these students are no different than who I was four years ago. They too yearn for success. They too, will be successful! :)

*The ride to Guad (Mckenzie Here we come!)

Thanks Mr. Blanco for the ride :)

*Preaching ;)

* Getting a giggle from past experiences :)

*We got to cut in front of the line...Mckenzie alumni privilege :) 

School lunch...mmm

* One of the classes we presented to! :) 

So adorable!

*Mr. Blanco chilling after his introduction :)

*Done with our job...Now Mr.Reynoso giving some last minute advice :)

Preach it! 

Resource of the day!

After becoming a virtual cow, will you feel more empathy (and change what you eat)?

READ ARTICLE HERE: http://www.splendidtable.org/story/after-becoming-a-virtual-cow-will-you-feel-more-empathy-and-change-what-you-eat

We would be more understanding if we were AVATARS...

A sneek Peek of the article: 

Virtual avatars are one thing. But what about real bodies? Would identifying with another person's body make you behave more like that person? If the body belongs to a different gender, age, or ethnicity than yours, would you become more empathic to others in that group?... TO KEEP READING CLICK HERE: http://science.kqed.org/quest/2012/07/31/avatars-and-the-mirrorbox-can-humans-hack-empathy/

Mirrorbox: The Story of How Art Became Science

VIDEO on Empathy!

 http://vimeo.com/38138351

Another reference :)

Stanford's Virtual Human Interaction Lab:  http://vhil.stanford.edu/mission/

LONG LIVE THE BUTTERFLIES!

I have frantically been trying to read as much as possible through every passing period. This novel has got me hooked!

"IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES" BY JULIA ALVAREZ

It is a novel based on a true story. It speaks of the women heroines (Their underground name being the butterflies) behind the revolution against Dictator  Rafael Leonidas Trujillo of the Dominican Republic. Throughout the novel the reader is taken through the lives of these women, the men behind them, their children, and the threatening and torture that goes along with the Revolution. The novel takes place between 1938-1960. It is such an amazing, inspiring, and raw story!


The last sister to survive speaks of the revolution and her sisters. She has now passed away (2014)

The Movie Trailer

10 QUESTIONS

1. Describe what compassion is in five words.

2. When did you realize that compassion is a necessity?

3. How did you learn to be a compassionate person? Did someone teach you?

4. What are your thoughts on this quote by Albert Schweitzer?
 "The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others."

5. If you were to die tonight what would be your last wish?

6. How much is giving too much?

7. How do you deal with people that you give everything to, but they seem to be ungrateful, or perhaps unaware of your efforts?

8. What is the difference between giving up on someone and letting them go?

9. How can we better aware our community about compassion and kindness?

10. What would be your number one advice to someone who is working to be a more kind and compassionate person?