Final Blog- My Reflection

This summer I have took a journey that I have never seen before in a class especially a college course. In the beginning I was skeptical of what I was getting myself into I was thinking I don’t think I can do everything she wants me to do and still pass the course. A lot of people felt what I was feeling and some didn’t return but the ones who were brave and down for the challenge of this Lit 110 class stayed and I think we made a good choice.
Literature is basically is all about reading short stories, drama, novels, and poetry which I thought but Stephanie took the art of it and made it into something we could actually enjoy and get us involved in every section we learned we had a big project on it so when it comes down to experience I have a lot starting with the mini book club we read a lot of short stories from different types of authors and we even had our own personally to facilitate to our class mates this experience made me learn how to produce a way to keep the discussion about the short story going I had to live my story just so I can have many things to talk about within my group even going having to read the other stories you had to go in knowing the story in order to answer the questions and help discuss the story even though the down and dirty kept us on our toes literally. This had me out of my element but I actually was more engaging in the mini discussion then I thought I would be actually talking and coming up with ideas about a short story made reading easier because if you didn’t know something you could talk about it amongst your peers my favorite short story was Nipple Jesus I thought the theme and voice was incredible I understood the text and that made it the more fun to read and it was one of the short stories that was one of the good ones to discuss about.
Next, The introduction to drama I just knew we would read a drama play I didn’t think I would be in a drama play that experience open me up to being a character experience it from not just reading it but being it I really liked all the plays because everyone took it and made it their own everyone did a fabulous job because they were really into play and that what made it enjoyable. That also came out when we did the poetry slam I thought that was one of the craziest ideas I could every do I didn’t think I could right my own poetry even reading and breaking down other poems didn’t work for me but somehow I managed to let myself not get frustrated and just think about and just free write and it worked out just fine. To me listening to everyone poems that day brought everyone personality some actually acting it out really help me understand the poem such as Montana and Shawna understood what they felt because they gave emotion and that’s when I learned if you want someone to listen and to hear you out you better show some emotion so they can feel it.
In this class we experimented a lot we especially from all the workshop we did for the flash fiction and poetry those really help get some ideas out of me and I actually tried to take what was afford to my advantage even though it didn’t work for me with the flash fiction but when doing the poetry workshops got a better understanding. Another experiment was Shakespeare play very difficult to understand but it was enjoyable like I said in one of my weekly blog it was a different type of experience because you had to really have to listen to grasp the concept of the play.
I also expanded myself because I of the weekly blogging I didn’t think I would be good at expressing myself weekly on text I read outside of class but it did help me expand because I blogged about stuff I never really read such as magazines when I looked at everything I read from watching TV a movie and tried to analyze it into a blog this made blogging more fun because it was what you read. I also expanded myself because all in one summer I seen a band play, a play, and watched a movie about an authors life and in all I am grateful for this experience and experimenting with all types of literature and expanding myself with new thing now I can say I seen it all when it comes down to literature.

CULTURAL OPPORTUNITY- BROWN BAG IT

For my last Cultural Opportunity I asked my boss If I could take 30 minutes off to watch a Brown Bag it show, it’s a free event that PACE provides for the Peoria Courthouse Plaza doing the lunch hour, being that I work down there I could watch them play through the window but I can't really here the music or experience it. The show play every Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays during the summer they have different talents perform from jazz to banjos, youth bands and even swing. This week I saw John Heasley a guitar player he was a one man band. He didn’t have a big crowd maybe because it was the early half of his performance. I didn’t know any of the music because that’s not the music I listen to plus he was an older guy so he probably was playing songs from way back in the 60’s I think the kind of music sounded like blues/folks music. Yes, I was bored out of my mind. I only stayed for like two songs because I only had 30 minutes to watch but the songs where very long. In all I thought he was a very good guitarist that is the only thing I thought was good, I mean his singing wasn’t all that bad either I just didn’t know any of the songs and couldn’t feel his music as I was listening. Maybe next time I know to do some research on a band before I go listen so I could have a general idea of what their music is about but then again if your music is good it doesn’t matter if you know it or not. But after listening to a couple songs I went to work and asked my coworkers did they recognize any of the songs and I was told one of them was a Bob Dylan song I didn’t catch it.

CUTURAL OPPORTUNITY- The movie Capote

For this week’s cultural opportunity I decided to watch the movie Capote thanks to Ms. Stephanie for loaning her dvd out. The movie was about a writer from New York who goes to Holcomb, Kansas to write a book on the killing of a wealthy farmer and his family. The author actually name was Truman Capote he was a white guy that wore big glasses and he had a very soft feminine voice. So I thought that maybe he was homosexual which he was. In the movie Capote goes to Kansas to get more research for his book. When the actually killers get caught they were sentenced to death Capote tried to get them a new lawyer so they could stay alive because he then was going to die he wouldn’t get the information he need from for his book which I thought was selfish on his part because he was keeping trying to help keep them alive for his book. But as the movie goes on and Capote meets with the killers he starts to care about Perry I think because they mother both died and they had something in common. Even Capote boyfriend Jack thought he was in love with Perry because he and Perry would send letters to each other when Capote was back East. I also notice that Capote did have feeling because when he wasn’t in Kansas he was writing and promoting his book he even named it “In Cold Blood” but when he goes back to see Perry he would lie about the book telling Perry he didn’t even start the book I think he didn’t want to hurt his feelings. During the movie I started to feel just like Capote because he got to know these killers and after awhile Capote didn’t want them to die because they was his friends now and I felt that same way too. When it was getting ready for them to get hanged I had to fast forward because I had great deal of emotions about it I have never done that before not even when African American get lynched I just couldn’t bear watching Perry get hanged. After their death Capote spent 4 years writing the book. He died in 1984 to Alcoholism I think that experience drove him to drink his life away though the book made him the most famous writer in America it also was the last book he would ever finish. After watching this movie I am very interested to learn more about Ian's movement.

In Class Blog 6

Today we had our Literary Salons there where some interesting movements that went up today that I didn't know anything about I also notice some movements where of African Americans I didn't realize how many movements we had such as the Harlem Renaissance when I think of them think of the ancient history never in a million years did I think that movement was an African American movement it just never crossed my mind I don't think I would have never known if it wasn't for the Lit Salons today but I one of the movements I did like and wish I would have done was the Black Arts Movement surprisingly I didn't now that was a African American Movement until today either I guess I wasn't giving us enough credit but something about that particular movement struck me it went back to the 60's and it was so powerful and strong I liked how they didn't like blues music because it made blacks seem weak and defeated. I liked that whole concept of it and also I liked how the authors that were presented today where mostly African American woman and they were black strong forceful writers. This movement was the only American lit movement to advance social gathering. I also learned that the Black Power movement started based on this movement and the they being the Black Art movement didn't resort to violence. In all today's presentations were good and I did take away a lot of information.

Cultural Opportunity- A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Going to Bloomington last Sunday to see the play was actually alright. I was very skeptical of seeing any play because of the long acts and short intermissions. The start of the play kind of had a slow start to me being that the language was very difficult to understand. I loved the amateur actors the workmen I think they made the play better especially the last act of the play; they were very comical. The leader of the crew Bottom stole the show for me he was really good. I also like the fairy Puck I believe that was his name he was comical at times too. I think plays should have a little comical scenes in it so that it keeps the audience attention that is what help me stay awake, being that is was Shakespeare I really didn’t think it would have any comedy coming from Shakespeare just because I think he is a more tragic type of writer which I could be wrong. The second half of the play is when I started to put the pieces together after figuring out what was happening in the play it became more interesting and better to understand the language. The play was not modern they wore the outfits and spoke in the language that was dated from that time period which was the 1500’s I believe but in all this romantic comedy was not all that bad and not all that long either. The actors and actresses really did a good job. I know next time to read some background information about the play before I try to sit down and watch one especially if it’s not in modern English language.

Outside Blog 6

For my outside blog I was sitting at home and didn't couldn't find my remote and stumble on the country channel with reba and kelly clarkson I actually like reba I want her show all the time and kelly clarkson is also a good singer but i was watching the video to "Because of You" and started to like it I knew a little of the song well some of the chorus because I heard it before from someone else who singed it so I kinda knew it but I was really liking how they were singing the lyrics how passionate the words were coming out of there mouths in the video. So I I thought it was funny how I heard someone else sing this song and never thought about it until kelly clarkson remade it. This made me think of our poetry it is how someone sing or say the text that makes you really understand or like it. Giving emotions to music, poetry, or anything is a major key to capturing any audience. Kelly made that song modern and up to date.

In Class Blog 6

Couldn't think of any in class text we read so I'm going to blog about the poetry slam. Let me say it was very different never thought I would ever experience something like that. Nerve wrecking but not as bad as I thought it would be I thought everyone was fantastic there where some very interesting poems and I think what made them go so well if the emotions you but into it and the acting if you act it out and show the emotions that the words are saying your audience will feel what you are saying. It also make the poem unique and that is what keep you interested in listening. There are so many ways to present a poem so the audience could understand and a lot of ways to lose audience like the reading to fast or not being able to hear the person and I thought that was my problem. I thought the poems where for the modern audience some could relate. The language of some of the poems had some slang and a little foul language here and there but that is common and that is what made the poems so dated and not uncomfortable to hear or read. The poetry slam put me out of my comfort zone but in all it was a great experience that I would remember.

Outside Blog 5

Today I was read a magazine I really don't read magazines I'm the one who looks at them while standing in a grocery store line just looking at the pictures until its my turn to get waited on and the only reason I woudl picked it up if they have an interesting front page I like how they try to sell their magazines by putting celebs pictures on their worst days and really mean topics about them or a sexy male star that seem to always catch my attention but today I decided to actually sit down and read one a co worker gave me a Cosmo magazine to read I don't think it is a good magazine for woman exspecially for young females because I think it give bad sex advice that doesn't need to be in a public magazine the front page had a beautiful girl on it but the topics were about how to please men and all about sex I had to get another magazine to check and see if this was that type of magazine and yes there it was the same type of topics I was starting to think this is why this magazine is so popular because woman read about it to get tips but as I started to read some of the articles they had some really good fashion advice and I even tore out the page with the workout exercises on it but majority of the articles were about pleasing men I really wonder what would Cosmo be like without it. Would it be as popular as it is now.

In Class Blog 5

This week class reading was the Intro of Poetry. Since we been doing this type of readings I'm starting to get the concept of the sections. In this reading it had a lot of terminology then the previous sections. The text really broke down the fundamentals of poetry out of all the reading we did this is my least favorite because we are getting into the poetry mode I think poetry is the best way to express yourself but it is hard to read; when I read a poem I can never comprehend what I read I think I actually go through all the steps on how to read a poem I can probably get some of them but without direction I wouldn't get it at all. When we got the assignment to pick a poem of our choice I really didn't think I would find one because of my background of reading poems so I was glad that the book put them in categories because it gave me ideas of what kind of poem I was interested in. When we got into our groups and everyone read their poem they picked I still didn't get them until we started to discuss them. After being in this class I realized that having discussions is the key to understanding anything you do not know. I'm really skeptical of the writing my own poem hopefully the exercises will really help me come up with something creative maybe better then my flash fiction story.

Outside Blog 4

For my outside blog this week I'm going to talk about myspace, facebook, and twitter all the Internet social networks that are very popular these days. I frequent these sites a lot, almost everyday to be exact, reading other people blogs and comments to even what they ate today, I sometimes wonder why am I so intrigued by these sites what are they doing to make me want to go on everyday? I realize after browsing through is that they have little ways of getting us to log on and that it letting us post our statues and moods for day letting us upload videos and photos all of these thing help get our attention. Also on these sites there is no language restriction so your comfortable reading the text. There also aren't any gender restrictions either it a social network for all ages these sites are updated a modernized to keep entertained and staying connected to these type of sites it not hard to figure out, every time I go on there is always some new feature added to get my attention. I think basically when it comes down to these site after awhile it does get boring but instead of picking up a really good book we rather go on the Internet click on one of these sites and read about other people day and life but I can say, it is very interesting stuff I think I learn about a different character everyday. : )

In Class Blog 4 (Star Wars)

In class we watched the movie "Star Wars A New Hope." To start off, I have never watched the movie before in my life and I never thought I would see it but I found the the movie to be quite interesting. In the movie, there was a western setting in the scene it was dusty and dirty in the bar it was all males they were having a beer, and listening to music, the bar fights, and also disagreements over money and somebody gets shot all of these thing are what you would see in a western film. I think this Star Wars reached a high level of popularity because it had a great storyline and plot it was the most amazing and advanced Sci-Fi movie of its time. They industry weren't making movies like that and it took the industry into another level of movie producing and I also think because of there mast collection of merchandises also help plus the movie captured the fantasy for both the young and the old. A symbol that i recognized in the movie was a private symbol was the light saber that was used by Ben. He used to fight Darth Vader and also Luke used it to practice. Character motivation I'm going to use Han Solo for an example because through the movie his character reckless guy who was the in debt and needed money to pay it off he was all about self until he realized the importance of helping the good. I can't really match one of the theme for drama in for this movie but we already know it has action, adventure, fantasy and Sci-Fi.

In Class Blog 3

My in class for this week I'm going to talk about the story that I had to facilitate for our mini book club and that was "The girl With The Blackened Eye." I thought it was a great story when read the title I thought the story would be about a girl getting beaten up, you know, something comical but that certainly was not the case. After reading the story i started to question why it seemed as if she taking up for the abductor it gave me mixed emotions as I started to think she was crazy exspecially when i read the part in the story when the narrator said her kidnapping was real and her life now wasn't and her keeping the map that the abductor drew before he died I thought she wasn't strong enough and was vulnerable but when I had the mini book club someone brought up the a syndrome I forgot the name of it but its when a person been beaten and tortured so bad they start to feel sorry for the person that harming them. That made me understand the narrator situation more. Also in my mini book club was the "Woman Hollering Creek" I thought it was interesting because both stories were about women that been abused and was having that type of syndrome.

Outside Blog 3

Today became a sad day after I came home from work and was told Michael Jackson the "king of pop" suddenly passed away from a heart attack. When I checked the Internet to see if it was breaking news it absolutely was but to me the Internet cant be your only source just because all the false stuff you can but on it. When I turned on the television it was plastered all over the TV from CNN, Showbiz Tonight, and VH1. You couldn't help but to get interested even if you didn't care for him. I watched them talk about him all night just because they kept luring me in saying stay tune on more information about his death then they would come back on the air and repeat the same thing they said moments before. I started to think they wouldn't give up anymore information I was switching back and forth from different news channels because they were procrastinating the new information to me but from the info I did get watching the press talk about what happened to him and showing images of him lying on the stretcher was really heartbreaking and surreal. When they but the fans on the TV and I seen them crying with posters displayed saying how much they loved him made me even sad but once I seen the cheerful and rejoicing fans it made me feel a little better. As I was thinking about Michael's death it made me think about a family member who died this year and how he got the same type of supporter that Mike did. After thinking about that I started to think positive and turn my sadness into happiness.

In Class Blog 2

My in class blog reading would be on the story that really intrigued me the most for some reason and that was Nipple Jesus. I like the narrator he had a voice that I can understand the text was written on a level that I felt comfortable reading. After reading the story and having the mini book discussion I realized the story was tackling judgemental issues as the narrator was judged, the art was judged and also the artist herself. It made me realize that people are really quick to judge a book by its cover. In the story the culture of the text was religious people and their issue with the painting thinking it was pornographic I couldn't relate to how they were feeling I understood the narrator more than anything but I guess because I was reading from his perspective. The strangest part of this story to me was someone who had came into the art gallery and riped the painting down and stomped it where is your religion now but also the character of the artist after someone destroyed her art? The theme of the story was judging people then it became religious. It was also funny how this one piece of art became controversy to the town just for it to be all for nothing and I understood how the narrator felt.

Outside Blog 2

For this weeks reading I watched Tyler Perry Madea's movies/plays I usually don't watch movies because they bore me to tears it doesn't matter what type of movie it is it can be drama, comical, or action related and I still can't stay focus while watching them but Tyler his movies/plays keep me interested. Tyler's movies are about real life situations that people go through everyday but its also comical. It's funny how I can say its comical and it keeps me interested when I just said those type of movies bore me but I think sense its in a play setting it keeps me engaged in it. I think that has a lot to do with me liking these type of movies because in the play there isn't unnessecary stuff to get its hour and half time in the play every scene has a meaning and a reason why it was in the play. There is one character in particular that keeps me interested throughout the show and that is Madea and she is the main character. I think because of her "Outspoken" character and her way of giving good advice even though she makes bad choices make you like her character. Plus in the play there are always a moral to the story or a message. Its not like a play that is all about laughs its a play that leave you with something you can take with you. I recommend watching Tyler movies I think you would like them also.

Intro to Fiction Blog

Earlier this week I was assigned to read the Introduction to Fiction. The author didn’t start off by dissecting what fiction is; he started readers off with a story first before we could examine the elements of fiction which gave me an idea of fiction because everyone may not know what fiction is so I thought that was helpful. I thought the reading was very informational and understanding by giving us definitions to a lot of the important words and also important dates too. As I was reading I became distracted and my mind started drifting somewhere else it was a hard task to stay focus because I thought there was too much information on fiction and this type of reading can only keep a person attention span for so long but besides that what I did get out of the reading was history on where elements of fiction came from for example a novel original name is “novella” and it came from Italy back in the middle ages. The reading also gave examples such as like a lil story to explain some of the elements for better understanding and being that the book is dated helped also. In all, I thought the reading gave a board idea of fiction.

Outside of Class Blog

Today I woke up this morning ready to eat and watch a little television before work. I scanned through the channels to see what was on and there it was the Maury show I haven’t watched this show and years so I was very excited because I wanted to see what type of drama Maury had today I mean who doesn’t like drama especially when it isn’t yours . As the show started the topic of the day was "Is my boyfriend/husband cheating on me?" The words were in big bold letter so you couldn’t miss what the topic was even if you couldn’t see those letters were made for the blind. I thought, "Hmm…typical topic what’s new?" So I already had scenarios' playing in me head before the program even started but I still had to give the show a chance just to see if the host and the setting of the show had changed since I watched it. As I listened to each person story, the once reality show started to feel scripted to me, maybe because their story was exactly what I pictured it but it felt more cliché and over exaggerated in a sense when people spoke it didn’t reel me in and make me give off a positive reaction and the setting of the place was not appealing because of the quality of my television set made everything dark and hard to understand people’s expressions. Although I could here good; visually I couldn’t connect to it as well as I wanted to. This once interesting show turned boring because of the cliché story lines and bad lighting of my TV set. What a waste of my morning.